The Hidden Crisis in Children’s Health: What Every Parent Should Know

The health of our nation is declining—not only in adult cardiometabolic health, but in how early poor cardiometabolic health now begins. While rates of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease continue to rise in adults, we must recognize a sobering reality: the tsunami of cardiometabolic disease has not yet peaked.

More children are now entering adolescence with obesity, elevated blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol levels—conditions that were once considered adult diseases. As this trend accelerates, the wave of early cardiometabolic disease will continue to rise. If we, as a society, continue to hit the snooze button and avoid confronting this reality, future generations will face earlier disability and even premature death from largely preventable conditions.

A recent article published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes highlights just how concerning this trajectory has become. Among U.S. children ages 12 to 19:

• 18% are considered prediabetic

• 53% have elevated cholesterol or triglycerides

• 15% already have high blood pressure for their age
  

These are not benign findings. They are well-established risk factors for heart attacks and strokes later in life—and increasingly, sooner rather than later. Parents and healthcare providers alike should be deeply concerned.

We know that childhood habits strongly shape adult health outcomes. Lifestyle patterns established early tend to persist, for better or worse. For children already showing signs of cardiometabolic risk, continuing on the same trajectory leads nowhere good. The question is no longer if intervention is needed, but who will be the first to respond to the alarm?

The article also highlights a growing strain on the healthcare system. There are simply not enough pediatric cardiovascular specialists to care for the rising number of children with hypertension and dyslipidemia. Waitlists often stretch for months—months during which disease progression continues unchecked.

The authors urge pediatric primary care physicians to step in. While I was trained through a dual residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics with formal cardiovascular training, most pediatricians were not. This epidemic was not part of their expected scope of practice. Without clear consensus guidelines and adequate training, many feel understandably hesitant to move forward.

Other specialists, such as endocrinologists, nephrologists, and obesity medicine providers, may help shoulder part of the burden, but the greatest opportunity for impact is being missed.

Prevention remains our most powerful intervention.

The most scalable, effective solution begins not in specialty clinics, but in homes. Educating and empowering parents to improve family nutrition—without shame, restriction, or diet culture—offers tremendous potential to alter this course. Teaching families how to eat well while keeping food enjoyable and sustainable can help defuse the looming tsunami before it reaches shore.

Given the ongoing and worsening shortage of healthcare providers across much of the country, we are unlikely to close the medical care gap anytime soon. What we do have, however, are millions of parents already “on location.” With the right tools and support, they can guide their children toward healthier habits from the start.

That work begins with parents themselves. When parents model healthier choices in nutrition, movement, and daily routines, children follow. By restoring a focus on the family—prioritizing shared meals, active time together, and consistent routines—we create a strong foundation for lifelong health.

Final Thoughts from Dr. Potter

If we want our children to avoid the cardiometabolic tsunami bearing down on their future, we must stop hitting the snooze button—and stop relying on inadequate solutions. Empowering parents to live healthier lives and pass those habits on to their children offers our best chance at raising a generation that is healthier, more resilient, and able to live truly abundant lives.

If your child is already showing signs of cardiometabolic risk, or you want to prevent those risks from developing, now is the time to act. Learn how our family-centered, preventive approach can help you create lasting health for the next generation.

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Original Article: Amanda M. Perak, Carissa Baker-Smith, Laura L. Hayman, Michael Khoury, Amy L. Peterson, Adam L. Ware, Justin P. Zachariah, Geetha Raghuveer. Toward a Roadmap for Best Practices in Pediatric Preventive Cardiology: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 2023; DOI: 10.1161/HCQ.0000000000000120 Thanks to Science Daily: Northwestern University. "A wake-up call for kids' poor heart health: U.S., Canada need resources to manage high demand of youth with heart disease risk factors." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 August 2023. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/08/230807121930.htm>.