In Guam and across the Pacific, families have long valued strength, vitality, and togetherness. Yet today, a quiet health crisis is threatening the future of our youngest generation. Poor nutrition and unhealthy lifestyle habits in childhood are contributing to the early onset of metabolic syndrome – a harmful cluster of conditions that dramatically increase the risk for chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
A recent study conducted here in Guam offers a sobering look at how widespread and urgent this issue has become. The Pacific Islands Cohort on Cardiometabolic Health (PICCAH) study, published this year in the International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, found that nearly 8% of children aged three to nine participating in the study were at risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS). Even more alarming, more than 39% of their parents were already suffering from it.
This study, which was the first of its kind in the region, draws a clear connection between children’s health and the lifestyle patterns of their caregivers. Families in Guam often share meals, routines, and traditions – which can be a powerful source of unity. But when unhealthy habits become normalized, they also get passed down. Early childhood habits likely continue into adulthood shaping an unhealthy lifestyle cycle over generations.
A closer look at Guam’s health habits
The PICCAH study found troubling trends in children’s behaviors. An astonishing 99.1% of children aged 2–8 years who participated in the study did not meet the recommended daily vegetable intake. More than 73% regularly drank sugar-sweetened beverages, and 83% exceeded the daily recommended limit for screen time. More than half didn’t get enough sleep. These habits are not minor – they are linked directly to weight gain, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol levels – all risk factors for MetS.
Indeed, one of the most compelling findings was the clear association between parent and child MetS risk. Parents with high triglycerides and abdominal obesity were significantly more likely to have children with similar markers. This suggests that health behaviors – and risks – are being shared in the home environment, whether through genetics, food choices, or lifestyle norms.
Why this matters for Guam
Guam has some of the highest rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Pacific region. Our islands have undergone rapid dietary and lifestyle shifts in recent decades, moving from traditional farming and fishing to highly processed diets and sedentary living. Fast food, sugar-sweetened drinks, and digital entertainment have replaced fresh fruits, vegetables, and outdoor play.
The stakes are high. Children who develop MetS early in life are far more likely to carry those risks into adulthood. Without intervention, many of Guam’s children may face chronic illness, shortened lifespans, and decreased quality of life.
But the PICCAH study also gives us hope. Because it identifies the risk factors so clearly, it also gives us a roadmap for prevention. And the path begins with families – and with simple, consistent habits.
What families can do
Parents and caregivers play a central role in shaping their children’s health. By making small, daily changes at home, families can protect their children’s futures:
• Cook more meals at home using fresh, local ingredients. Even one more homemade meal each week can improve nutrition and reduce sugar and salt intake.
• Limit sugary drinks. Water, local coconut water, or fresh fruit smoothies are better alternatives to sodas and fruit punch.
• Encourage outdoor activity. Go for a walk at the beach, hike a local trail, or simply play outside with your children. Physical activity should be a daily habit.
• Model healthy behavior. When children see their parents choosing vegetables, drinking water, and staying active, they’re more likely to follow suit.
• Establish screen-time boundaries and bedtime routines. Adequate sleep and reduced screen time are essential to children’s physical and emotional development.
The role of community
Families need support – and that’s where schools, village leaders, public health agencies, and policymakers come in. From improving school lunches and regulating sugary beverages in stores, to providing safe spaces for physical activity and reviving community gardens, systemic change must complement household change.
Programs like the Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and SNAP-Ed here at the UOG Land Grant Extension Service are already working to educate families across the island. But greater collaboration, sustained outreach, and cultural sensitivity are essential.
Investing in our future
The PICCAH study is a wake-up call – but it’s also a source of clarity. We now know that many of the risks for chronic disease in Guam begin in early childhood. We know they are modifiable – small changes, one behavior at a time. And we know that by working together – as parents, professionals, and a community – we can change the trajectory.
Start with one more vegetable on the plate, one less sugary drink, one more walk around the block, and one less hour of screen time. Together, we can ensure there is love, intention, and faith that our children deserve every chance to live long, vibrant lives.
Let’s give them that chance, starting today.
Coming up from UOG Land Grant:
• Garden-to-Table Workshop Series
3:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, Oct. 15 and 22
9:30 a.m. – Noon on Saturdays, Oct. 18 and 25
UOG Agriculture & Life Sciences Bldg.
Register for $15 per session at https://url.uog.edu/gardentotable
• Guam Farmer Focus Conference
8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Oct. 29–30
Hyatt Regency Guam
Register by Oct. 20 at https://bit.ly/islandrootsglobalgrowthconference
Subscribe to the UOG Land Grant mailing list at https://url.uog.edu/subscribe-extension to stay posted on all upcoming events, or follow @uoglandgrant on Facebook or Instagram.
Rachael T. Leon Guerrero is the dean of the College of Natural & Applied Sciences at the University of Guam and the director of UOG Land Grant. She is a registered dietitian nutritionist, with a doctorate in human nutrition. She can be reached at rachaeltlg@triton.uog.edu.
UOG Horizons is a weekly column on agriculture, food, nutrition, health and wellness, and natural resources written by faculty from the University of Guam School of Health and from UOG Land Grant.
