Purpose of Review Health literacy is fundamental to primary and primordial prevention of atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASCVD) in children and adolescents. Here we summarize essential components of interventions which address health literacy challenges to reduce ASCVD risk in youth. Recent Findings There is a global pandemic of suboptimal health behaviors among youth that may contribute to the increasing rates of ASCVD worldwide. Deficiencies in youth cardiovascular health have promoted increased attention to health education that incorporates health literacy. Studies conducted in both the child (0 to 9 years) and adolescent (10 to 17 years) population have shown improvement in health knowledge, health behaviors such as physical activity and eating habits, and objective measures such as body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and serum lipid levels. The available literature affirms that the involvement of family and community members in young people’s surroundings—including parents, teachers, and peers—can influence educational interventions’ protective effects. Summary Educational interventions which incorporate health literacy have demonstrated potential to address ASCVD risk factors in youth and may be augmented by caregiver and community involvement.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.