The arteries of overweight children show abnormalities that can lead to plaque formation and heart disease later in life. Now, new research shows that these abnormalities can largely be reversed with regular exercise and a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

States lead researcher Dr. Kam S. Woo: “We were surprised that the children had developed abnormalities at such a young age - and by how readily these could be reversed with simple lifestyle measures.”

Dr. Woo and colleagues from the University of Sidney and the Chinese University of Hong Kong recruited 82 overweight children, ages 9 to 12. Medical testing showed that all the children had obesity-related arterial dysfunction - in particular, thickening of the inner walls of the coronary arteries, a key early event in the development of heart disease.

For six weeks, half the kids followed a low-fat diet full of natural, high-fiber carbohydrates; the other half followed the same low-fat diet and were also assigned to a structured exercise program.

Healthier arteries

At the end of six weeks, both interventions produced significant weight loss, reduced cholesterol levels, and healthier arteries. But the diet-plus-exercise intervention was the clear winner. It was associated with significantly greater improvement in arterial function than diet alone.

Weight loss success

At the one-year follow-up, the children following the low-fat diet and exercise program were rewarded with further improvements in their coronary arteries as well as continued success with weight loss and cholesterol lowering. Less dramatic effects were seen in children in the diet-only group.

The study was published in the April 6, 2004, issue of the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

“Conclusive evidence”

This research, stated Drs. Stephan Gielen and Rainer Hambrecht in an editorial in the same issue of Circulation, “provides conclusive evidence that aggressive lifestyle modification by diet and physical exercise training are needed in overweight children.”

Pritikin Family Program

The diet/exercise program that proved so successful in this new study is very similar to the diet/exercise program that kids are now learning in the popular Pritikin Family Program, conducted every summer at the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa in Aventura, Florida.

“It’s the best summer program for kids,” says Susan Tabas-Tepper of Villanova, Pennsylvania, whose son Fitz had such a good time in the 2002 summer Pritikin Family Program that he returned for the 2003 summer program and plans to return for the upcoming 2004 summer program. (For those of you who are fans of Donald Trump’s hit show, “The Apprentice,” Fitz is the whirlwind who appeared on the show and wowed the Donald and audiences nationwide!)

This summer’s Pritikin Family Program starts June 19.

“Each summer has been a huge success,” agrees Dr. Jay Kenney, Nutrition Research Specialist at Pritikin.

A recent analysis of children ages 9 to 16 attending the two-week Pritikin Family Program found that:

LDL “bad” cholesterol fell on average 33%

Triglycerides dropped 48%

Children who were overweight shed 5 to 10 pounds in just one to two weeks and continued to lose weight when they continued their newly-learned good habits at home.

Everyone had fun - both kids and parents.

95% of the kids did not want to come.

100% of the kids did not want to leave.

Activities include:

Dynamic “hands on” cooking classes

Fitness games like “Funky Salsa Hop” and “Cardiac Rap”

Kid-friendly nutrition workshops (That’s what’s happening to my arteries?!”)

Field trips to fast food restaurants

Tennis

Volleyball, soccer, and afternoons at the beach

Dr. Ruth Peters, NBC Today Show expert on child and family psychology, will be part of the outstanding faculty leading the Pritikin Family Program this year. Dr. Peters will work closely with all children and parents in the program.

Join in the fun this summer. Call 800.327.4914 for reservations.