Parents alert! Couch potato lifestyle can develop high blood pressure in kids as young as SIX

With the advent of smartphones, social media and online gaming, kids are more glued to screens and couches than ever before. The pandemic, lockdown and shutting of schools has also made kids habitual to spending all their time at home without getting enough physical activity.

Previous generations of children used to spend much more time playing for hours in the streets, at school or in the parks with their friends. While they did it only to have fun, kids these days need to get enough such exercise or they could easily fall prey to complicated health problems at a young age.

If your child is overweight due to lack of exercise or eating too much fatty junk food, then you need to intervene to prevent them from becoming obese and develop a high blood pressure problem. Along with monitoring the child’s lifestyle habits, parents should note that desirable lifestyle modifications are best successful when they involve all the family members.

According to research, inactivity, eating too many sugary and salty foods, and excessive weight account for nine in ten cases of high blood pressure in children and adolescents. The international team’s findings were based on six to 16 year-olds with hypertension across Europe.

Parents should put a cap on children’s screen time, including TV and social media. You should also teach them to enjoy healthy, home-cooked meals on a regular basis, and eat junk-food only occasionally and in controlled quantities. Children should be inspired to exercise to keep their bodies fit, healthy and in good shape.

Childhood hypertension is becoming more common due to rising obesity among children. Fat around the abdomen, which is dubbed ‘love handles’ in adults, is most damaging to health.

15 percent of obese children are hypertensive, and five percent of overweight children have high blood pressure. On the other hand, fewer than two percent of normal weight children have hypertension. Childhood obesity and hypertension can increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke in later life.

If your child is leading an unhealthy lifestyle, they might exhibit symptoms like headache, nosebleeds, visual impairment, low school performance, attention difficulties, shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations and fainting.

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Dietary recommendations for improving your child’s health include increasing their consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables. Include more high fibre foods in their diet. Cut down their salt and sugar intake, fizzy drinks and saturated fats which is found in popular ultra-processed foods like burgers, pizzas, chicken nuggets, chips and ready-to-eat meals.

Youngsters should do at least one hour of moderate-to-vigorous exercise every day. They could play any team sports or take part in physical activities like jogging, cycling or swimming. They should not be engaging in sedentary activities anymore than two hours everyday.

Realistic goals should be set for weight, diet and physical activity. Keeping a track of weight, eating habits and exercise can help your kids monitor their progress. Try to keep the process engaging and positive so that your kid does not feel pushed or stressed. You can also engage in group activities like playing competitive team sports with friends and family.

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High blood pressure is known as the silent killer because it is usually asymptomatic. It was once only associated with adults but now children can develop it too. Early diagnosis of elevated blood pressure is crucial, especially in children, so it can be managed timely with lifestyle modification and medications if required. It is recommended to get screened for hypertension at least yearly, regardless of symptoms.