Although it is not a perfect measure, BMI gives a fairly accurate evaluation of how much of your teen's body is made up of fat.
The cholesterol in blood comes from 2 sources: the foods your teen eats and their liver. The liver, however, makes all of the cholesterol your teen's body needs.
Encourage your teen to eat three balanced meals a day, with fruits or vegetables as snacks.
Teens need at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most days for good health and fitness and for healthy weight during growth.
Detailed information on diagnosing and evaluating heart disease in children
You may think of heart disease as a problem for adults, not your young children. But diet and exercise habits started in childhood can begin a lifetime of heart health, or a lifetime of heart damage.
Most children become obese because of a poor diet, lack of physical activity, and other lifestyle issues. In rare cases, however, a child's excess weight may be because of a specific illness.