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Assessment of nutrition and physical activity education programmes in children
V Burke1, L J Beilin, R Milligan
1University Department of Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Australia.
Insights
Childhood lifestyle interventions improve cardiovascular health. Physical activity and family nutrition programs significantly reduced risk factors in children, establishing lifelong healthy habits.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) are linked to adult outcomes.
- Tracking blood pressure (BP) and cholesterol from childhood supports this association.
- Prospective studies are needed to confirm outcomes in children with elevated risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of lifestyle interventions on cardiovascular risk factors in children.
- To identify effective strategies for modifying childhood lifestyles for long-term health benefits.
Main Methods:
- A controlled trial involving over 1000 children aged 10-12 years.
- Implementation of physical activity programs and home nutrition programs.
- Cluster analysis to identify children at higher risk.
Main Results:
- Physical activity programs improved fitness, leading to greater reductions in diastolic BP and triceps skinfolds in girls.
- Nutrition programs decreased sugar intake in boys and fat intake in girls.
- Children in higher-risk groups showed major benefits from combined fitness and nutrition interventions.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity combined with family-involved nutrition education is effective for lifestyle modification in children, including high-risk individuals.
- Programs should promote age-appropriate diets and physical activity, avoiding undernutrition.
- Establishing healthy habits in childhood is likely to confer long-term benefits for reducing CVD risks in adulthood.
Abstract:
1. Studies in children relating blood lipids to the extent of atherosclerosis at post-mortem suggest a link between risk factors for cardiovascular disease in childhood and adult life. Tracking of blood pressure (BP) and cholesterol from childhood also supports this association. However, prospective studies have not yet established the outcome in children with increased levels of risk factors. 2. In a controlled trial in Perth, Western Australia, involving over 1000 10-12 year old children, fitness was improved by physical activity programmes which were associated with a greater fall in diastolic BP and triceps skinfolds in girls compared with controls. Sugar intake decreased in boys and fat intake fell in girls, mainly affecting participants in home nutrition programmes. 3. In higher risk children, identified by cluster analysis, major benefits were associated with the fitness and home nutrition programmes. Physical activity combined with involvement of the family in nutrition education is likely to be the most successful approach to modifying lifestyle in children, including those with higher levels of risk. 4. Undernutrition by too rigid restriction of fat intake must be avoided in young children who need calorie-dense foods. Undernutrition, in itself, may predispose to cardiovascular disease in later life. Programmes should aim to establish a prudent diet appropriate to the age of the child combined with physical activity. As regular activity and a healthy diet in adult life will reduce risks of cardiovascular disease it is likely that childhood education will establish lifestyle habits of potential long-term benefit.