Exercise May Reverse Heart Disease in Obese Kids
by Kids Health

In case you need another reason to encourage your child to get off the couch, new research shows that regular exercise may actually reverse the early changes of heart disease in obese children.

An Australian study recently found that even the simplest exercise program - an hour of basic weight training 3 times a week for teens, for example - reversed some of the blood vessel changes that can lead to serious cardiovascular disease over time.

Heart disease from atherosclerosis (hardened, clogged arteries) used to be mainly an adult problem. But as sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets continue to cause an epidemic of overweight and obese kids, even some preschoolers have been found to show the beginnings of the artery changes of heart disease.

The good news is that the progression of heart disease may be able to be stopped. In the study, 35 obese children between the ages of 6 and 16 were tested for the development of clogged arteries and many were found to have the early signs of disease. After 8 weeks of regular activity (weight training for the teens, running around and playing outside for the younger children), blood vessel function had improved. The children then stopped exercising and were tested again after 2 months. All the cardiovascular improvements had reverted back.

So what does this mean for you? It's just another powerful reason to encourage your child to make a commitment to exercise. It can and does make a difference - but your child has to stick with it to reap the full benefits. Here are some tips:

Turn off the TV, video games, and the computer.
Get your child moving, no matter what the activity. It doesn't have to be an hour on the treadmill or even an organized sport to count as exercise.
Remember that children usually do as you do, not as you say. So get up and go for a walk, a hike, or a bike ride together.
Support your child by making healthy eating a priority for the whole family.
It may be hard to get started, but think of it as an investment in your child's long-term health. And the payoffs will last a lifetime.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: November 2003



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