"There is now quite a large body of evidence documenting pathologic and physiologic changes when hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes are present in childhood," says Dr. Rae-Ellen Kavey, head of the cardiology department at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. "Because the process of heart disease begins in childhood, prevention should hold the most promise when it is initiated in children."

Dr. Kavey and her colleagues at the American Heart Association recently published a set of prevention guidelines for pediatricians. They recommend three health goals to help kids combat heart disease:

An overall healthy eating pattern, appropriate body weight, and desirable lipid profile and blood pressure.

No new initiation of cigarette smoking, no exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, and complete cessation for children and parents who smoke.

Be physically active every day and reduce sedentary time to two hours per day at most.