Kids Heart Challenge

Why Kids Heart Challenge Is So Important

Heart disease is our nation's No. 1 killer; stroke is No. 3 and a leading cause of serious disability. Every year, about 870,000 Americans die from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. That's about 36 percent of all deaths.

These diseases may remain critical problems in the future because of poor lifestyle habits among American adults and children. For example, only one of 10 Americans participates in 30 minutes or more of vigorous activity every day. In addition...

•Over 15 percent of children and adolescents are overweight.

•4 million children have above-normal blood pressure.

•27 million children have high cholesterol.

Healthy lifestyles can help prevent heart disease and stroke. Eating healthy, nutritious foods, being physically active, staying tobacco-free, and maintaining a healthy blood pressure and weight are all part of a healthy lifestyle. Kids Heart Challenge helps get this message across to students.

Kids Heart Challenge promotes the value of physical activity to elementary schoolchildren while showing them they can contribute to their community's welfare. This is a time when children can establish the foundation for movement skills. These are also the years when positive learning experiences can help establish a positive attitude and appreciation for participating in regular, daily physical activity for life