FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ENCOURAGED TO TEAM UP FOR HEALTHY HEARTS

FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ENCOURAGED TO TEAM UP FOR HEALTHY HEARTS

 

World Heart Day – 30th September 2007

(Geneva, 3rd May 2007) - With 155 million overweight and obese children globally,¹ studies have shown that parents can play a major role in helping children control weight and develop other healthy habits to reduce major risk factors for heart disease and stroke in later life.² Recognizing parents’ influence not only in families but beyond into community groups, this year’s World Heart Day, 30th September 2007, is themed “Team Up for Healthy Hearts”.

World Heart Day, now in its eighth year, is run by the World Heart Federation’s member organizations in over 100 countries. The World Heart Federation is a nongovernmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, committed to helping the global population achieve a longer and better life through prevention and control of heart disease and stroke. World Heart Day activities include health checks, organized walks, runs and fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals, and sports tournaments.

Heart disease and stroke is the world’s largest killer, claiming 17.5 million lives a year – 80% in low- and middle-income countries. Heart disease and stroke is largely preventable if the main risk factors, including high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol and blood glucose, tobacco use, inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables, overweight and obesity, and physical inactivity are reduced.³

“Studies from around the world show that parents play a key role in influencing the lifelong habits of their children which protect including a healthy diet, regular exercise and not using tobacco. Children should be reminded the way they eat, drink and move determines their future heart health,” said Professor Shahryar Sheikh, President of the World Heart Federation. “Children’s habits are learned through observing others. Children as young as ten reflect the health habits of their family, peers and social environment and current research indicates that eating and exercise habits consolidate at this age and stay with people for life.² Therefore, primary prevention of cardiovascular disease needs to start young with parents and other community groups recognizing the opportunity they have, to help.”

“With the help of parents, schools and other community groups, children need to establish balanced diets with plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish and pulses, plus low-fat and low-salt products,” said Dr Srinath Reddy, Chairman, Foundations’ Advisory Board of the World Heart Federation. “Parents have a great opportunity to set the example, not only for the benefit of their own heart health, but also of their children. Children too can play the role of change agents, by bringing home health information from their schools, to influence health behaviours of other family members.”

One study from Norway, for instance, found that the probability of a teenager eating a low fat diet was twice as high if both parents also had low fat diets.⁴ Another study found that parental involvement significantly improves the eating and exercise behaviours of 8 -11 year-olds.⁵ Obese youths have an 80% greater chance of remaining overweight as adults and will consequently be at higher risk of heart disease and stroke.⁶ Overweight children are three to five times more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke before they reach the age of 65 than children with a normal weight⁷, plus have a higher chance of developing diabetes.

Physical activity is vital for good heart health. Lack of physical activity can contribute to obesity, diabetes and hypertension. Over the past ten years, the number of overweight children has increased by two to five times in developed countries and almost four times in developing countries.⁸ One study found that children who watched more than two hours of television a day were 50% more likely to be overweight.⁹

Regular physical activity helps to slow down the narrowing of the arteries to the heart and brain, encourages the body to use up excess stored fat, can help to reduce high blood pressure, improves “good” cholesterol levels (HDL cholesterol) and maintains normal glucose levels. At least 60% of the world’s population fails to achieve the minimum recommendation of 30 minutes moderate intensity physical activity daily (60 minutes for children). However, children’s activity levels can be significantly aided by their parents’ involvement.²

Tobacco use is also a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Quitting smoking reduces the levels of blood clotting and decreases the chance of a sudden blockage of a blood vessel. Studies have shown that children are more likely to avoid smoking if their parents do not smoke and if they spend more time together as a family.^4,10 One study showed that girls who spent ‘poor’ family time were nearly five times more likely to smoke than those spending ‘good family time’.¹⁰ Joining a support group to stop smoking: people have twice the chance of success in a group rather than trying to stop smoking alone.¹¹ And there is increasing evidence that children can have a positive impact on their parents’ health habits, such as smoking, nutrition and physical activity.

For information about World Heart Day 2007, visit www.worldheartday.com. Last year in Poland, for example, a two-day heart fair was dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and stroke; in Iran there were sports matches, cooking competitions and events for school children, and in Laos a two-day conference on cardiovascular disease, plus a TV-broadcast.

- Ends -

Editors’ Note
The World Heart Federation has the following tips to help protect people and their families from heart disease and stroke:

1. Encourage everyone to eat well-balanced meals, including (steamed, boiled, grilled or baked) lean meat, fish, vegetables, pulses, fruit and low fat products.
2. Provide at least five daily servings of vegetables and fruit.
3. Offer water, low fat milk or fresh, unsweetened fruit juices to drink rather than soft drinks.
4. Include fruit or vegetables in your children’s school lunch or snack. Convince your child’s friend’s parents to do likewise. Get their teacher’s support to put healthy eating on the classroom agenda.
5. Make sure you don’t consume excess salt, especially through processed foods.
6. Plan more family activities outside. Add 30 minutes of regular physical activity daily and build physical activity into day-to-day chores. Take the stairs rather than the lift, for instance.
7. Make your home smoke-free and try to ensure that your children don’t smoke or experience tobacco smoke anywhere else.
8. Limit screen time. Keep the TV or computer off as much as possible and make sure your children’s leisure time is packed with plenty of physical activity. Why not go with your child to school by foot or bicycle.
9. As a family member, set a good example by eating healthily, being physically active on a regular basis and by not smoking.
10. If you think anyone in the family is at risk of heart disease, check with your health professional.

About the World Heart Federation
The World Heart Federation is a nongovernmental organization based in Geneva Switzerland dedicated to the prevention and control of heart disease and stroke, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.  It is comprised of 195 member societies of cardiology and heart foundations from over 100 countries covering the regions of Asia-Pacific, Europe, East Mediterranean, the Americas and Africa. For further information visit: www.worldheart.org


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Karen Smadja, Cohn & Wolfe public relations
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Karen_smadja(at)ch.cohnwolfe.com



¹ T Lobstein et al, Obesity in children and young people: a crisis in public health. Obesity Rev., 2004 May; 5 (suppl 1): 4-85
² Norton D et al. Parental influence on models of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in children. European Journal. Of Cardio Nursing 2(2003) 311-322
³ World Health Organization. Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment: WHO global report. Geneva: WHO Press; 2005
⁴ Rossow I et al, 1994, Concordance of parental and adolescent health behaviours. Soc. Sci. Med. 1994; 38: (9) 1299-305
⁵ Nader et al, 1996 The effect of adult participation in a school-based family intervention to improve children’s diet and physical activity: the child and adolescent trial for cardiovascular health. Prev Med 1996; 25< (4): 455-64
⁶ Recent estimates show that over 1.5 people worldwide will be overweight by 2015 if current trends continue; and currently about 22 million children aged under 5 years are overweight. World Health Organization. Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment: WHO global report. Geneva: WHO Press; 2005
⁷ Circulation, 2004, 109, April 5
⁸ Flynn. Et al: Reducing obesity and related chronic disease risk in children and youth. Obes. Rev. 2006 Feb; 7 Suppl 1:1-5
⁹ Fleming-Moran et al.Behavioral Interventions and the Role of Television in the Growing Epidemic of Adolescent Obesity. Methods Inf Med 2/2005, 303-309
¹⁰ Garmiene et al, Family time, parental behaviour model and the initiation of smoking and alcohol use by ten-year old children. BMC Public Health, 23 Nov 2006, 6:287
¹¹ Stead LF et al: Group behaviour therapy programmes for smoking cessation. Cochrane Collaboration. 2005