Table 9 Lifestyle and dietary recommendations to reduce high blood pressure values
From: Focus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in children and adolescents
Goals | |
• | BMI in the normal weight range: maintain BMI to prevent overweight |
• | BMI in the overweight range: weight maintenance in younger children or gradual weight loss in older children and adolescents to return to the normal weight range |
• | BMI in the obesity range: gradual weight loss (1–2 kg/month) to achieve normal weight |
General recommendations | |
• | Moderate to vigorous physical aerobic activity for 40 min, 3–5 days/week and avoid more than 2 h of daily sedentary activities (besides school hours) |
• | Participation in (competitive) sports activities limited only in the presence of uncontrolled stage 2 hypertension |
• | Avoid severe dietary restrictions, reduce portion size, stimulate the habit of having breakfast |
• | Limit salt intake |
• | Avoid intake of excess sugar, excess soft drinks, saturated and trans fat, animal protein |
• | Drink water |
• | Stimulate the intake of healthy food (fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grain products, fish) |
• | Implement the behavioral changes (physical activity and diet) suitable for individual and family characteristics |
• | Establish realistic goals |
• | Involve the family, caregivers, teachers and other educators in the process of dietary and life-style changes |
• | Provide educational support and materials |
• | Develop reward systems (non-food) to achieve healthy behavior |