Heart Healthy Kids

-You're watching Parents TV. Our families, our lives. -Most of us know that heart disease is the number one killer in America. But did you know that heart disease actually begins during childhood? -I wasn't aware of that, actually. -No, I wasn't aware that it was that young. -What you don't know can hurt your child. Nearly 9 million American kids are overweight. And even worse, recent studies show more than half of these obese children, between the ages of 5 and 10, have at least one risk factor for heart disease-- a discovery that prompts doctors to predict our children may very well have a shorter lifespan than we do. -They're probably gonna have lifespan five to seven years shorter because of the health choices they're making. -Cookies, chips, crackers, candy. -But the good news is, parents can turn their children's heart health around by making sure your children eat the right kinds of food-- -They are not gonna pick those healthy choices on their own. So, I make sure I try to buy healthy stuff that I can to have it in the house for them. -Pretty much keep everything balanced, like you get carbs, proteins, and make sure they get enough of their green vegetables with each meal. -I take vegetables and mix it in [unk] where they don't know it's there. -by making sure your kids get enough exercise-- -Just try to eliminate the amount of TV that they watch everyday, and the video games. -I watch. I mean, I just try to see and make sure that they get good exercise, and they're not sitting around. -We take him out and do family activities. -Well, we've got him in sports. They do ice skating, soccer, basketball. -I played basketball and swam as a child. And I know today, that I'm still active because of that. -by setting a good example-- -Having healthy food in the house. My husband and I eating healthily. -My wife and I both are pretty active. So, we try to keep our kids in the same routines. -and by getting your kids checked as early as the age of 2 for cholesterol and high blood pressure, especially if high cholesterol or heart disease runs in your family. -I think it's very important. -I know my own health issues probably could have been avoided, you know, if I'd known earlier. -The newest research shows the epidemic of heart disease starts early. But armed with this knowledge, you can cut the risk for your kids by teaching them that a low-fat diet and regular exercise are crucial habits to keep for life. -Thanks for watching Parents TV. Our families, our lives. Your new video source for parenting.