HHS HealthBeat (July 22, 2008)

Bad starts

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Maybe 10 years ago, you wouldn’t hear about teenagers having metabolic syndrome – risk factors for heart disease, including elevated blood pressure, bad blood sugar and cholesterol readings, overweight and inactivity.

We do now, though – in about 5 percent of teens – and research at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, indicates the problems start early. Robert McMurray says kids ages 7 to 10 who have inactive lives are five to six times more likely to have metabolic syndrome as teenagers.

``I would advise parents to let their kids walk to and from places, when it is safe. I would advise the kids to be out and be more active.’’  (9 seconds)

That also includes less screen time, such as video games.

The study in the journal Dynamic Medicine was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last revised: July, 22 2008