Harvard Study: Kids’ Heart Health Declines Starting at Age 10

Factors such as diet, sleep duration, and nicotine exposure appeared to contribute to this decline, a new study found.

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The path to heart health takes a sharp turn at age 10—and not for the better.

A new Harvard study suggests that cardiovascular health trajectories begin a steady decline right around the time kids enter middle school, with 98 percent of children falling short of optimal heart health measures.

Most Children Fall Short of Optimal Heart Health Scores

Research published on Dec. 18 in JAMA Cardiology shows a decline in cardiovascular health (CVH) among children, predominantly driven by health behaviors rather than biological health factors.