It is well known that atherosclerotic cardiovascular (heart)
disease is the leading cause of death in adults and that it can
be prevented with healthy habits. That is why there are so many
guidelines about reducing heart disease risk factors in adults.
It is now also known that heart disease can begin in childhood,
especially in overweight children, and there is a growing push
to target prevention at younger children so that they don't
develop heart disease as adults. Adults also often pick up their
bad habits, including poor 'dietary habits, physical activity
behaviors, and the use of tobacco' as kids. The American Heart
Association recently released a scientific statement, AHA
Guidelines for Primary Prevention of Atherosclerotic
Cardiovascular Disease Beginning in Childhood, that can help
parents and health professionals identify and manage risk
factors children can have that will increase their risk of
having heart disease as an adult. Although there is not a lot of
new information in these guidelines, it