Rise in Child Chronic Illness Could Swamp Health Care

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Getting doctors to keep closer tabs on childhood cancer survivors might not be so difficult. However, changing the poor eating habits and lax exercise patterns of America's children -- and their parents -- will be a lot tougher, Perrin said.

Recent public policy moves -- such as bans on sugary or greasy snacks and soft drinks in schools -- are steps in the right direction. But parents, especially, "are critical to this effort," Perrin said.

By modeling good behaviors and closely monitoring their children's behaviors, "parents can do a really good job, and it's important for them to realize that," he said. "We think that improving how parents parent is a critical way of stemming this epidemic."

More information

Find out more on keeping kids healthy at the American Heart Association.