GARLAND, TEXAS -
On the outside, Mary Harris looks like a typical 10-year-old girl. But three months ago she was diagnosed with high cholesterol and a body mass index that was too high.
"This is her good cholesterol," Dr. Jane Sadler says while pointing to Mary's chart.
The Baylor-Garland doctor added that Mary was trending towards trouble and wrote a prescription that didn't have anything to do with a drugstore--she told Mary to stop eating school lunches and be more active.
"This is a kid who took ownership of her health, Dr. Sadler said. "This is a family that took ownership in their childs health and adopted a lifestyle that would improve her whole way of living."
Mary didn't just run with it--she walked with it. Instead of catching a ride home from school, she walks a mile with her friends and now she eats lots of fruits and vegetables instead of chips and sodas.
Mary even has a plan when the family goes out for pizza.
"I have salad first so I mostly fill up on salad," Mary said. "I have water and I have few bites or a piece of pizza."
Mary's mom Laura said the lifestyle change was easy and making a sacked lunch in the morning is a snap.
Having healthier food in the house has made everyone eat better.
"We always have a house full of kids," Laura said. "I see them sitting at the table and instead of gorging on something bad, I see them eating fruit and I'm thinking I didn't realize that many kids liked fruit."
So what about Mary? Her bad cholesterol went from 108 to 99 and good cholesterol from 29 to 39. Triglycerides dropped from 291 to 133 and her overall BMI dropped significantly.
Dr. Sadler said the results in just three months is amazing.
"You know it's wonderful that an innocent little ten year old girl can make such a big adult decision."
Dr. Sadler said that many kids and parents don't the advice of eating right and exercising very seriously.
"This is her good cholesterol," Dr. Jane Sadler says while pointing to Mary's chart.
The Baylor-Garland doctor added that Mary was trending towards trouble and wrote a prescription that didn't have anything to do with a drugstore--she told Mary to stop eating school lunches and be more active.
"This is a kid who took ownership of her health, Dr. Sadler said. "This is a family that took ownership in their childs health and adopted a lifestyle that would improve her whole way of living."
Mary didn't just run with it--she walked with it. Instead of catching a ride home from school, she walks a mile with her friends and now she eats lots of fruits and vegetables instead of chips and sodas.
Mary even has a plan when the family goes out for pizza.
"I have salad first so I mostly fill up on salad," Mary said. "I have water and I have few bites or a piece of pizza."
Mary's mom Laura said the lifestyle change was easy and making a sacked lunch in the morning is a snap.
Having healthier food in the house has made everyone eat better.
"We always have a house full of kids," Laura said. "I see them sitting at the table and instead of gorging on something bad, I see them eating fruit and I'm thinking I didn't realize that many kids liked fruit."
So what about Mary? Her bad cholesterol went from 108 to 99 and good cholesterol from 29 to 39. Triglycerides dropped from 291 to 133 and her overall BMI dropped significantly.
Dr. Sadler said the results in just three months is amazing.
"You know it's wonderful that an innocent little ten year old girl can make such a big adult decision."
Dr. Sadler said that many kids and parents don't the advice of eating right and exercising very seriously.
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