What are the benefits of lifestyle-modification interventions for chronic disease outcomes in children and adolescents?
Lifestyle-modification interventions in childhood and adolescence have been shown to have short- and long-term benefits to lipid levels and subclinical atherosclerosis measures in randomized controlled trials and observational studies of children and adolescents with lipid disorders. There are likely other unmeasured health benefits of lifestyle-modification interventions for chronic disease outcomes such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. These benefits support the recommendation to treat children and adolescents with lipid disorders with lifestyle-modification interventions, generally by using a family-based approach and promoting a heart-healthy diet, plenty of physical activity, avoidance of cigarette smoking, maintenance of a healthy weight, maintenance of normal blood pressure, and maintenance of normal glycemia.