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Use cholesterol study as motivation
When can bad news be turned into good news? When it’s used to help motivate someone to do better.
That’s how I view a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which said that one out of every five teenagers has unhealthy cholesterol levels. Unhealthy cholesterol levels have been linked to heart disease and premature death in adults.
“Overweight and obese young people are at far greater risk of having abnormal (cholesterol) levels than are youths with normal weights,” researcher Ashleigh May, an epidemic intelligence service officer in CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, says in a news release. “The current epidemic of childhood obesity makes this a matter of significant and urgent concern.”
The study showed 43% of obese teens had unhealthy cholesterol levels compared with only 14% of normal-weight teens and 22% of overweight teens.
While those figures are definitely bad news, I also see the report as yet another motivational reason to be involved in programs like Movin’ and Munchin’ Schools.
While many teenagers know what foods and activities are good or bad for them, sometimes we all need a little motivational help—a reminder that bad eating and exercise habits can have negative consequences. That’s where programs like Movin’ and Munchin’ Schools can lend a hand, bringing together classmates, teachers, and parents for a common, healthy cause.
