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"People know
that heart
disease is the
No. 1 killer of
Americans, but
they don't fully
realize that it's
a silent process
that begins in
childhood."
-- Christine L.
Williams, M.D.,
M.P.H.
New Guidelines for Kids' Heart Health
Guidelines regarding the cardiovascular health of children were
also published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart
Association in July. Lead author of the guidelines, Christine L.
Williams, M.D., M.P.H., immediate past chair of the American Heart
Association's Committee on Atherosclerosis, Hypertension and
Obesity in the Young, was quoted as saying, "People know that
heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans, but they don't fully
realize that it's a silent process
that begins in childhood."
The statement
recommends that children
participate in physical activity
four to five times per week
because a physically active
lifestyle has been associated
with weight control, lower
blood pressure, improved psy-
chological well-being and a
predisposition to increased
physical activity in adulthood. The statement also addressed the
issue of obesity and noted, "Rates of obesity have increased two to
four fold, with the highest rates among African-American and
Latino youth. This trend is of particular concern because
overweight in childhood and adolescence has been associated with
increased risks of hypertension, adverse lipid profiles, type 2 dia-
betes, and early atherosclerotic
lesions, as well as increased
risk of adult obesity and obe-
sity-related morbidities and
mortality in adulthood."
To help combat obesity, the
AHA is recommending that
parents and children visualize
a "healthy plate," among other things. A "healthy plate" consists of
a plate that is half filled with salad and vegetables, one fourth with
starches and one fourth with a protein source. The guidelines also
recommend that parents reduce the amount of their child's seden-
tary time, which includes watching television or videotapes, playing
on a computer, listening to music, and talking on the phone.
References:
Williams, et. al. AHA Scientific Statement, Cardiovascular Health in Childhood.
Circulation, 2002, 106; 143.
Wylie-Rosett, Judith. AHA Scientific Statement, Fat Substitutes. Circulation, 2002, 105;
2800.
T
he American Heart Association (AHA) recently
affirmed that fat replacers can play a beneficial
role in an overall healthy diet. Currently, the
AHA recommends limiting total fat intake to less
than 30 percent of calories and saturated fat to
less than 10 percent of calories. The statement
noted, "Americans are responding to the dietary
recommendations. The proportion of calories
derived from fat in the
United States is decreas-
ing." According to the
AHA, research indicates
that most Americans
receive approximately 34
percent of their calories
from fat compared with
the 40 and 42 percent of
fat in the 1950's.
A Calorie Control
Council survey conducted
in 2000 indicates that low-fat, reduced-fat and
fat-free products remain popular among the
general public. Seventy-nine percent of those
surveyed use such products, with more women
(82 percent) using fat-modified products than
men (75 percent). And, it seems that people do
not consume more of a product simply because
it has been reduced in fat. In fact, 65 percent of
those surveyed reported consuming the same
amount of the reduced-fat version as the full-fat
variety. Consumers' favorite reduced-fat prod-
ucts include milk, cheese, salad dressings,
potato chips, mayonnaise, margarine, ice cream
and frozen desserts.
The AHA statement on fat substitutes con-
cluded, "Some research suggests that individuals
who consume a diet that is reduced in fat and
calories and includes use of fat-modified prod-
ucts have a better overall nutrient profile than do
individuals who do not use any fat-modified
products. Within the context of a healthy dietary
pattern, fat substitutes, when used judiciously,
may provide some flexibility in dietary planning,
although additional research is needed to fully
determine the longer-term health effects."
AHA Reviews Reduced-Fat Products;
Issues New Guidelines for Kids' Heart Health
