Tackling the problem of overweight children and teens
Tackling inactivity and reducing the number of overweight children and teens are key to turning heart health statistics around in 2010. Data from 2003 to 2006 shows 11.3% of children and teens were at or above the 97th percentile in BMI for their age — an ominous sign because overweight teens have a 70% chance of becoming overweight adults. Preventive measures you should emphasize for patients, including young people are:
- Complete BMIs on all patients and discuss results. Hesitant to initiate a conversation on weight? Utilize our BMI educational forms to break the ice. The handouts are for ages 2 to adult. Each flyer explains what a BMI is, what the recorded BMI means and simple steps your patients may choose from to make lifestyle changes. Visit priorityhealth.com/provider/clinical-resources/obesity.
- Assist in cholesterol-control compliance. Cholesterol control is often ignored by the people who need it most. Less than half of Americans with symptomatic heart disease receive treatment to lower their cholesterol, and only a third of those getting treatment are achieving the target LDL levels.
- Educate patients. Talk about nutrition and portion control and increasing physical activity to burn off extra pounds. Priority Health offers nutrition and activity logs for members. Visit priorityhealth.com/provider/clinical-resources/obesity and look for the nutrition and exercise logs.
- Continue to monitor and control blood pressure. This is important in adults and children.
The cost of treating cardiovascular disease is expected to rise 5.8 % in 2010, to $503.2 billion, a figure that lends real urgency to prevention efforts.
Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2010 Update, American Heart Association
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