Tampa General Hospital

ampa resident Amanda Maddocks belongs to a local food co-op and the South Tampa Family YMCA to make sure her two kids are learning healthy habits. "We're not perfect. We occasionally get the fast food," she admits. "But I try to stay aware about what's best for us. It takes some planning, but the result is worth it." Apparently, Maddocks is way ahead of the curve. According to a report released in August by the American Heart Association (AHA), an overwhelming majority of kids are getting into habits that lead to heart disease down the road. They are overweight or obese, they don't get enough exercise, and some are starting to smoke. Even more startling: Less than 1 percent of children ages 2 to 19 in the United States meet the criteria for the AHA's definition of ideal cardiovascular health. The AHA found that children are getting a bulk of their daily calories from simple carbohydrates, such as sugary desserts and beverages. Considering that most children are born with ideal cardiovascular health, "these figures are pretty disturbing," says Arthur Labovitz, MD, chair of cardiovascular sciences at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and medical director of Non-Invasive Cardiology Services at Tampa General Hospital. But he wasn't altogether surprised by the findings, either. "It takes decades or longer for plaques to form that attack the arteries," he says. "So it only makes sense that we need to start very early in forming good habits." The current statistics may seem overwhelming and impossible to overcome. Dr. Labovitz wishes there was a secret weapon or phrase to change a society that is steeped in convenience, fast foods and unbalanced diets dominated by sugar. So he suggests taking small steps at a time, with repetition and reinforcement. STARTS YOUNG Helping Your Hear t Stay Hea lt hy By Michelle Bearden 14 tgh.org / fall 2016

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