Heart Smart Cardiovascular School Health Program

Physicians know, and research has proven, that healthy eating patterns that are developed in childhood and adolescence promote the optimal childhood health, growth and intellectual development as well as prevent health problems such as obesity, eating disorders, tooth decay and anemia. And, children who learn good habits in childhood grow up to adulthood with the tools they need to prevent heart disease, stroke, cancers and immune mediated illnesses.

Heart smart cardiovascular school health programs will be more likely to help to establish these healthy eating habits as well as good exercise habits. These guidelines should be based on research, clinical review, and current practice.

In a published research study by the Department of Medicine from Louisiana State University Medical Center, researchers found there was a relationship between behavior change and physiologic change achieved in a total school health promotion to reduce cardiovascular risk. Researchers instituted environmental changes such as a school lunch program with healthy food choices, reduced fat, sodium and sugar, a physical education program and cardiovascular risk factor screening. The scientists found what might appear to be obvious – the participants in the study showed a greater improvement in their knowledge, cholesterol levels were decreased, overall run/walk performances increased and increases were noted in HDL cholesterol.

Heart smart cardiovascular school health programs play an important part in promoting lifelong healthy eating and exercise habits. Dietary habits of our citizens contribute substantially to preventable diseases and premature death. When we are able to make changes to those habits in young children we are then able to impact the health of future generations.

Resources:

Preventive Medicine: The Heart Smart Cardiovascular School Health Promotion

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1738766

American Journal of Health Promotion: Heart Smart School Lunch Program: A Vehicle for Cardiovascular Health Promotion

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1738766

Circulation: Cardiovascular Health Promotion in the Schools

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/110/15/2266.full

Tulane University School of Medicine: Health Ahead Heart Smart

http://tulane.edu/som/cardiohealth/ahead.cfm

Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Guidelines for School Health Programs to Promote Lifelong Healthy Eating

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00042446.htm

American Journal of Healh Promotion: Heart Smart School Lunch Program