Parents know that it is important to establish a healthy lifestyle in early childhood, but in a fast-paced society, it provides the convenience of fast food and the temptation of electronic devices, which is not always easy to do.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused economic difficulties and restricted sports activities, making the condition more severe.A kind Philadelphia Children’s Hospital The study found that the obesity rate of children in Philadelphia increased from 13.7% to 15.4% between January 2019 and December 2020.

A healthy life is not only related to weight control.according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAmong children aged 6 to 19, 7% have high cholesterol, and one in seven of them suffers from high blood pressure.

Child obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are known risk factors for all future cardiovascular diseases (such as heart disease and stroke). New research also shows that they are also risk factors for poor brain function in middle-aged people.

The study, published in the journal Circulation, analyzed data from a longitudinal study that involved cardiovascular risk from childhood to adulthood. The study began in 1980 and ended in 2011, and included more than 2,000 boys and girls.

at the end LearnParticipants underwent a computerized cognitive function test that measured four cognitive areas: episodic memory and associative learning, short-term working memory, reaction and exercise time, and visual processing and sustained attention.

“We can use these results to shift the focus of brain health from old and middle-aged to younger people.” Say The first author of the study was Juuso O. Hakala of the University of Turku in Findland.

“Our research results show that actively monitoring and preventing risk factors for heart disease and stroke from childhood is also important for brain health. Children with adverse cardiovascular risk factors may benefit from early intervention and lifestyle Change.”

Researchers have found that persistent high systolic blood pressure or high blood total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol during childhood are related to poor memory and learning ability in middle-aged people. Obesity is related to lower processing speed of visual information and difficulty maintaining attention.

It was found that children with all three cardiovascular risk factors were more likely to have poor memory and associative learning, poor vision processing, reduced attention span, and slower reactions and exercise time in middle age.

The researchers said that more research is needed to determine whether there is a clear causal relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive ability. They still say that these are risk factors and should be carefully monitored even in childhood.

Here are some tips from pediatric experts, including the Mayo Clinic, Harvard University Health Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, how they can help control children’s cholesterol and blood pressure.

Reduce salt intake

Encourage children to eat heart-healthy fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein diets. If the body mass index is high, you can lose weight.

When shopping at a grocery store, choose foods that are low in saturated fat, such as low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese, as well as fruits and vegetables. Try to avoid buying sweetened drinks.

A large part of controlling blood pressure is to reduce salt intake.Mayo Clinic Say Children aged 4 to 8 should not exceed 1200 mg per day, and older children should not exceed 1500 mg per day.

Pediatrician Guadalupe Medical Center It is also recommended that children help with cooking, which will teach them about healthy food choices.

Move

Daily physical exercise is just as important for maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and it is also important for maintaining weight. Therefore, please make sure that your child exercises at least 60 minutes a day. Limit screen time. Children 2 years old and above should not have more than two hours of screening time per day.

Even during the pandemic, let the children play outside as much as possible. Are you stuck in the rain?Have Creative way Stay active indoors, such as playing hide and seek games.

Make it a family affair

Pediatrician and CDC It is said that the best way for parents to develop a healthy lifestyle is to develop habits. When everyone in the family makes healthy choices, it is easier for children to follow suit.

Periodic inspection

Arrange regular health checks for children. screening Can alert parents and pediatricians of any potential problems.