Inactive children, when compared with active children, weigh more, have higher blood pressure and lower levels of heart-protective high-density lipoproteins.
Even though heart attack and stroke are rare in children, evidence suggests that the process leading to those conditions begins in childhood.
The 1987 National Children and Youth Fitness Study indicates that at least half of youth don't engage in physical activity that promotes long-term health and that less than 36 percent of elementary and secondary schools offer daily P.E. classes and that most classes were unlikely to foster lifelong physical activity.
A fitness testing program sponsored by the Chrysler Fund Amateur Athletic Union, which tracks fitness among 9.7 million youngsters between the ages of 6 and 17, shows that children ar getting slower in endurance running and are getting weaker.
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (1988-1991) found that the prevalence of overweight American adolescents age 12-19 was 20 percent for males and 22 percent for females. That is an increase of six percent from the 1976-1980 study.
The National Health Examination Survey found that as many as one in five children between the ages of 6 and 17 are overweight. From 1963 to 1980 obesity increased 54 percent among children 6 to 11 and 39 percent in adolescents 12 to 17.
Children spend an average of 17 hours a week watching t.v. in addition to the time they spend on video and computer games.
Inactive children are more likely to become inactive adults.
Healthful lifestyle training should begin in childhood to promote improved cardiovascular health in adult life. The following good health practices should be promoted among children:
Regular physical activity
A low-fat, low-cholesterol diet after the age of two
Smoking prevention
Appropriate weight for height
Regular pediatric medical checkups
