A new study by researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital found Children can learn healthy life lessons from sitting and watching one of their favorite television shows, Sesame Street.
“Cardiovascular health promotion should be started as early as possible and be integrated into all aspects of a child’s life, including family and school,” said co-author Jaime Céspedes, MD in a press release.
Preschoolers involved in the study participated curriculum using Sesame Street’s Healthy Habits for Life, a content-driven initiative launched in 2006.
Columbia was chosen for this pilot study.
In a five-month school intervention, Sesame Street characters introduced this line of action to toddlers and their caretakers in underprivileged area in Bogota.
The topics included:
- Loving and caring for your body
- Eating a variety of healthy food
- Physical activity and endless opportunities for exercise.
![Courtesy: Mount Sinai Hospital]()
Courtesy: Mount Sinai Hospital
“As a result of our successful pilot intervention in Columbia, the program has also been implemented in Spain where we have expanded our reach to 20,000 more children,” said lead researcher Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD in a press release.
At the end of the study, the children’s knowledge, attitudes and habits relative to healthy life-styles had improved.
Researchers also concluded the percentage of children at a healthy weight improved by 13 percent.
“Additionally countries are now joining the implementation of this vital childhood intervention allowing for increased education about the benefits of a heart-healthy lifestyle to better protect our world’s tiniest hearts,” said Fuster.
The new findings were presented the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2013.
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