Can an inactive childhood lead to heart disease?
A recent study states that children who live inactive lifestyles are more likely to develop various forms of heart disease later in life. The study was conducted on the same group of children over 7 years. It first examined the children while they were in grade school, and then again when they were teenagers. They measured things such as blood pressure, height, body mass index, and cholesterol levels. After the final measurements were taken, the researchers found that 4.6 percent of the teens had 3 or more characteristics of metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is a label of clustered conditions that lead to heart disease, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, etc. Researchers said that within the 4.6 percent of children that displayed metabolic syndrome, all of them were six times more likely to have had very little aerobic exercise during their childhood. These children indeed received little to no vigorous exercise that strengthens the heart. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children engage in at least 60 minutes of rigorous exercise per day.
So what does this study actually show? It indeed shows the importance of exercise in childhood, but the study also raises questions. Did the time of the study have an effect on the results? For example, if the study had been taken 25 years ago, would they still have been able to obtain the same results? In current times, there may be underlying factors that lead to children exercising less and being at greater health risks. Digital entertainment has skyrocketed in the last ten years, resulting in more children playing video games and watching TV. Parents also tend to work harder and longer hours now, leaving their children to do what they want unsupervised.
The important point to take home from this study is that parents should be more alert of their children's activities. Assuming that the study is valid, and that there is indeed a correlation between lack of exercise as a child and having greater risks of heart problems later in life, then parents should know to make sure that their kids are getting enough exercise on a daily basis. A 10 year old is not likely to read the results of scientific studies, so they continue living their lives without enough activity - not knowing it could be detrimental to their health.
Articles about the study can be found here and here.
Posted By: Nate Pitcher
posted by PWH @ 6:52 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
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I can definitely understand why there wouuld be a correlation between the amount of exercise and the potential to develop heart disease. I agree that digital entertainment has been one of the major reasons why children are not able to get in the 60 rigorous minutes of exercise into their day. However, I also feel like the public is aware of this pattern and is trying to come up with games like the Wii and DDR in order to promote exercise. All in all, your article was very thorough; good analysis!
- Helen Thi
This blog raises a good point. It is now more likely for children to be playing video games or some non-aerobic activity rather than playing outside. I hope because of this America will give more gym opportunities for elementary and middle school in the future.
Posted by Julie Hachey
even though we (Americans) know that it is imperative for children to get adequate exercise, we do nothing about it, we cut back on gym classes because of school budgets. i guess if a kid doesn't know what to be when the grow up they should be a cardiologist because America will need more and more of them
posted by jennifer mcgrath
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