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AMERICANS UNAWARE THAT HEART DISEASE BEGINS IN CHILDHOOD

National Survey Shows Majority of Americans Mistakenly Believe Heart Disease Begins in Later Years

Studies Confirm Preventive Action is Necessary

ATLANTA - If you're one of those Americans who believes heart disease does not begin developing until middle age, you're not alone. This misperception is widespread. A new national survey, conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, reveals that most Americans (78 percent) are not aware that the signs of heart disease begin developing during childhood.

The survey also found that three-fourths of parents say their oldest child has never had his/her cholesterol levels checked. In addition, almost half of all parents (46 percent) say their child either eats too much junk food or eats healthfully only part of the time. As a means to address the situation, the federal government's National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has designated September as "National Cholesterol Education Month," aiming to increase awareness of the connection between cholesterol levels and heart disease. Heart disease is the nation's leading cause of death, and there is now a concerted emphasis on reducing risks early in life since cholesterol-lowering medication is not a viable option for young people.

Several recent studies have addressed the subject of heart disease risks in childhood and documented that heart-healthy eating habits are not only important for adults, but children as well. The most recent study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, confirmed that simple dietary substitutions make a difference in lowering cholesterol levels, not only in adults but also in children. This groundbreaking research revealed that the entire family can benefit from a heart-healthy diet, as cholesterol levels were dramatically lowered in adults and children when they switched from butter (saturated fat diet) to margarine (unsaturated fat diet).

In this study, Margo Denke, M.D., professor of medicine and nutrition researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, reported that compared to butter, the margarine based diet lowered levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol by an average of 11 percent in adults and 9 percent in children. In fact, the results show that making the switch from butter to margarine can be as effective as cholesterol-lowering medication for some individuals. Total cholesterol was lowered as well and HDL (good) cholesterol was not affected. Dr. Denke recently served as a member of NCEP's expert panel on the treatment of high cholesterol.

Another recent study found that adolescents (ages 13 to 18) with high cholesterol intake were more likely to show early signs of atherosclerosis in their arteries. In addition, a major 20-year heart study revealed that children aged 5 to 17 who were overweight were 2.4 times more likely to have elevated cholesterol levels. According to government statistics, roughly 25 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight, which may place an alarming number of children and adolescents at an increased risk for heart disease.

This past spring, the NCEP issued updated guidelines for the detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults, which included this recommendation: "Everyone older than age 2 should care about cholesterol to reduce the risk of developing heart disease as an adult. Children as well as adults can improve the health of their hearts by following a low-saturated-fat and low-cholesterol diet, avoiding obesity, and being physically active."

According to the Opinion Research Corporation survey, parents know they need to do more to help their children consume a heart-healthy diet. The majority of parents responded they could be doing more of the following: increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed, limiting fast food, preparing foods with less salt and using more margarine and low-fat dairy products.

Dr. Denke said, "We now know that heart disease starts in childhood and this disease is currently the country's number one killer of both men and women. In order to help reverse this trend, the entire family should follow heart-healthy habits as part of their lifestyle. Making simple dietary changes are the first steps to a healthier diet and ultimately a healthier heart for those of all ages."

The national survey, comprised of a nationally representative sample of 2002 adults, was conducted August 2-6, 2001. The survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation International on behalf of the National Association of Margarine Manufacturers (NAMM), a non-profit trade association founded in 1936. The sample reliability is +/- 4 percent. The JAMA study was supported by a grant from the United Soybean Board and NAMM, and by the General Clinical Research Center at UT Southwestern (U.S. Public Health Service grant).

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