Dec 1, 2008 6:52 pm US/Eastern
Hey Kids, Drop The Mouse, Go Get Some Exercise
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Some alarming information in a new study on overweight children and heart disease; it found that some obese children could have clogged arteries similar to those of a 45-year old person.
But there are ways to reverse the damage including eating right and getting some exercise.
Alex Mendoza, 15, is like a lot of overweight teens these days; he spends more time on the computer than he does working out and eating right.
"I see how people react to how I look and it made me feel kind of bad," said Mendoza.
Alex wanted to look and feel better so he enlisted the help from his pediatrician Dr. Doris Aguilar.
"What has happened has been the lifestyle change in the last decade or so. More parents are having less time at home. You also have a more sedentary life for the children they're sitting down in front of the video games outside less running around," admitted Aguilar.
A recent study from Children's Mercy Hospital in Missouri found that obese children and teens can have cardiovascular systems similar to those of 45-year-olds.
"They did ultrasounds looking at the heart vessels at the arteries and they saw a lot of plaque accumulation of the cholesterol that we see in adults," warned Aguilar.
And that accumulation of plaque can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney and liver disease. That's why it's so important for kids like Alex to make changes now to improve their health.
Here's what parents can do: make healthier meals, shop together and read labels, exercise at least three times a week for 30 minutes, get the entire family involved, ask your pediatrician for advice and create short term goals and rewards for those goals.
Since his family began helping him make healthier choices, Alex has lost 20 pounds giving him the confidence he needs to stay on track.
'I'm very active. I've seen that I've lost weight. I lost inches my pants when I walk they fall off. I like that," admitted Alex.
To reduce buildup in the arteries, children should be encouraged to eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables and a variety of foods that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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