Article by Thropay Health Center located in Downey, CA 

Photo by Robert Collins on unsplash.com

There is a growing concern over the increase in childhood hypertension in our country. The statistics suggest that now approximately one in five children (including teens) has high blood pressure. This is a troubling trend, because the likelihood is that these young people will develop heart disease, strokes, kidney issues, or endocrine and nervous system malfunctions – all much earlier in life than previous generations have done.

What is causing this serious problem of juvenile chronic hypertension?

Three factors have been identified: obesity, lack of exercise, and drugs like Ritalin (for ADHD). 

Methylphenidate, the active ingredient in Ritalin, causes elevated blood pressure in 80% of children who take it. (Many times, this goes undetected because pediatric doctors don’t check for blood pressure.) But the more commonly shared factors are the first two - obesity and lack of exercise.

By the age of seven, a child with high blood pressure is at least 50% likely to be obese. But that number skyrockets for teens with hypertension - about 90% of them are either obese or overweight.

We all know the lifestyle factors that contribute to obesity and lack of exercise. Although plenty of physical activity is so vital to healthy growth and development, many young people spend more time every day playing with phones than playing active games with their peers or families. Most also eat a nutrient-poor diet consisting largely of high-calorie processed snacks and convenience foods. Sadly, this sets a pattern in a child that, if not corrected early, will continue through life. When the bad health effects become apparent, it will be much harder for this person to change his or her established eating patterns to a more healthful one.

That’s not an excuse, of course! It’s never too late to make a right decision, and it’s never impossible to do so. It’s just a lot easier to manage when they are young.

But before trying to correct bad lifestyle habits in their children, parents should take a look at themselves. How did these patterns develop? How much time do I spend on MY phone each day? How often do I grab an unhealthy snack to eat while watching TV? Do I weigh more than I should?

The best way to help a child lose weight, develop healthy eating patterns, and get active is to make all the changes a family affair – the same rules for all, even Mom and Dad. And the whole family will benefit! Here are some suggestions:

Limit the amount of time spent on phones, playing video games, or watching TV.

Have a family game night each week; use games that everyone can enjoy. They can be indoor or outdoor – even a rousing game of Hide ‘n’ Seek can be hilarious fun as a family.

Choose a weekly exercise activity that can be adapted to all ages – bike-riding? Skating?

Get everyone involved in meal planning for the week; take turns with meal-making and clean-up chores.

Work together on replacing unhealthful snacks with healthier ones, one at a time. The same for incorporating more vegetables into the diet. Steadily gaining a little ground will get you farther than a sudden all-out spurt that soon dies down to nothing.

‘Evidence that children today are less fit than [they were] previously, comes from a comparison of the average time needed to complete a standard endurance run… There is also evidence that physical inactivity, as measured by television watching, correlates with several measures of obesity in children’ https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/407731?fbclid=IwAR16pIx0s_ZspSbxySNkzBH2NRI6Fvc8iGia6Qp5vROwthi-WFSz6xFxhKU

‘Obesity is too big a problem to ignore.’