Kids Are Not As Healthy And Fit As They Could Be

Health and Fitness Habits Get Worse As Kids Enter The Teen Years

Are children leading healthy lifestyles?

Not always, according to a new survey.

A new survey commissioned by CIGNA about the health and safety habits of our children and teenagers has yielded some alarming results. It says that two thirds of American children don't adhere to the healthy eating guidelines established by the USDA. And nearly 70 percent don't follow simple safety measures such as wearing a seatbelt, or using a helmet. Dr. Allen Woolf explains.

"Sedentary behavior and poor nutrition among today's youth could mean a greater incidence of adult-onset illnesses, such as heart disease or osteoporosis," cautions Dr.Woolf.

According to Dr. Allen Woolf, "We need to understand these behaviors now while we can still influence them and help teenagers adopt better health and fitness habits. According to the CDC, over 40 percent of adults die from heart disease which is why its so important to teach kids good diet and exercise habits while they are young."

The survey is part of CIGNA's Be Healthy...Be Fit education program, aimed at students between 9 and 16 years old. Nearly 75 hundred students in nine major areas around the country answered questions about nutrition, exercise and use of safety equipment.

For more information about the survey go to www.cigna.com.

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Produced for Cigna Healthcare