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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – The first heart health promotion book aimed at children 3-7 years old has just been published by a Chicago physician and his six-year-old son.
“Increasing studies show once children are seven, they’ve largely already determined whether they’ll get heart disease. The risk factors, even the early heart damage, are already in place, says Eugene Lipov M.D., a Chicago physician who co-authored the children’s book with his six-year-old son. “This is an attempt to reach those children.” Dr. Lipov is Director of Pain Research at Northwest Community Hospital.
Studies show that by the time children start kindergarten 40% will have one or more risk factors for heart disease (obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.). In addition, a study using ultrasound imaging and presented earlier this year at a meeting of the American Heart Association, suggested that the carotid arteries in the necks of teenagers and children as young as 10 had fatty buildup and signs of other cardiovascular disease similar to that of an average 45-year-old!
Other studies show childhood obesity is skyrocketing and the vast majority of such children will stay overweight the rest of their lives.
Dr. Lipov conceived the book idea when he was asked to speak about the heart to his son’s
pre-kindergarten class. He says, “I went on Amazon and looked for a book to help them understand the heart and heart disease. There was nothing there!”
But how do you teach preschoolers about heart disease on a level they can understand? Dr. Lipov enlisted the help of his then four-year-old son, Sam. The two decided to tell the story of a Superhero, Captain Heart (who looked like a heart with legs) who helps a young boy and his grandfather become strong again by eating right and exercising.
“Sam had the final say on everything,” says Dr. Lipov, “because his was the opinion that counted. For instance, at first Captain Heart looked like a two-dimensional valentine but Sam said hearts have muscles so we made him a ‘smiley Rambo,’ a muscular three-dimensional Superhero. And, before finalizing the book we made several modifications based on input from the children we’ve presented to.”
In fact, Captain Heart already has his own 4” action figure. Dr. Lipov had the superhero molded and manufactured. Plans are for the action figure to either be bundled with the book or sold separately. Already presented to hundreds of kids at Chicago area schools, Dr. Lipov says kids love hearing the book read aloud while they’re holding the action figure. And Captain Heart has won over the parents who have heard about the presentation. Says Chicago area mom Darcy Johnson, “Finally! With all the buzz about childhood obesity I have yet to find a book that my kids could grasp and understand! Captain Heart is an easy, factual yet fun look at eating healthy and how it affects your heart. As a mom who wants her kids to be aware of food choices, this is the perfect addition to our playroom library! Hope to see more of Captain Heart in the future!!!!”
Dr. Lipov has also enlisted the support of Chicago’s cardiology community. Several experts have endorsed the book and even recommended it for use by the National Institute of Health. The NIH has just begun a major initiative to halt the skyrocketing rate of childhood obesity.
“What I’d like to see,” says Dr. Lipov, “is the routine use of this book by pediatricians and parents. Heart disease is deadly serious. But to teach young kids to prevent it, you have to make the process fun. For the first time I think this book does just that.”
The book is available at www.captainheart.org and at www.amazon.com. A dollar from the sale of every book is being donated to the Chicago Public Schools.
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