Val Vessel Val Vessel is a 13-year-old girl who excels in math and science. She is outgoing, petite and cute, although she likes to try out new and improved looks and that blue hair is causing her parents some grief. Val would rather talk on the phone than do anything else, so she doesn t play volleyball like she used to and has put on just a few pounds. She has tried a couple of cigarettes, but only when her friends smoke. Diabetes on her mother s side of the family Cardiovascular disease on her father s side Most of her aunts, uncles and cousins have air-born allergies and asthma Non-HDL Cholesterol 130 mg/dl HDL Cholesterol 50 mg/dl BMI 26 Val Vessel seems like a normal teen with a bright future, but because she has always been petite, she never worries about diet and exercise. She has made a few worrisome choices that may impact her health as she get older. Will Val stay healthy? Play the game to find out! Mona Cyte Mona Cyte is a 15-year-old Hispanic girl. She was always the tallest in her class and very active in sports. Mona always fought for noble causes; she loves to keep people from being hurt. She has never smoked; she knows it isn t healthy and besides, it would make her teeth yellow and her breath smell bad. High blood pressure on both sides of the family Heart problems on her father s side; her dad died when she was 12 No history of diabetes or cancer HDL Cholesterol 45 mg/dl BMI 23 Blood Sugar (Glycohemoglobin) 5 Mona was shaken up when her father died at such a young age. Her doctor ran a battery of tests and found that Mona was in perfect health except for slightly elevated cholesterol. Even at her young age and being fit, Mona is at risk for heart disease as she gets older. What will happen to Mona? Play the game to find out! 2007 The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 21
Sarah Sclera Sarah Sclera is not yet 20 years old, Hispanic, and was a cute, chubby doll of a baby. She was very smart; wanting to be a doctor from the time she was eight years old. Sarah is a loyal friend and well-liked by everyone. She was chubby through elementary school until she took up gymnastics and cheerleading at age 10. She slimmed down and maintained a firm commitment to staying fit. She has never smoked. Low cholesterol and low-to-normal blood pressure A few uncles and an aunt have heart and vascular disease One cousin has Type II diabetes HDL Cholesterol 62 mg/dl BMI 23 Blood Sugar (Glycohemoglobin) 5 Sarah is extremely health conscious; she watches her weight and works out 3-4 days a week at her fitness club. She knows she has a history of being overweight and worries that she may backslide. Will Sarah stay healthy as she ages? Play the game and find out! Coronary Connie Coronary Connie is 20 years old, one of five kids and the shortest of the bunch. Connie was always chubby; and got even heavier in middle school. She always hated the way cigarette smoke smells and hasn t taken up the habit. Cancer on both sides of the family No history of heart problems Onset of diabetes late in life Non-HDL Cholesterol 170 mg/dl HDL Cholesterol 42 mg/dl BMI 29 Connie was alarmed at her last doctor visit; she needs to make some health changes to avoid diabetes and coronary artery disease, among other diseases. Will she make the health changes needed to avoid major health problems? Play the game to find out! 2007 The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 22
Keisha Adventitia Keisha Adventitia was an adorable, although chubby, African American baby with big bright eyes and dimples when she smiled. She is now 14 years old, still chubby, but doing well in school. Because she was heavy, Keisha was embarrassed to play sports, choosing music instead; she s great with her guitar. Keisha hates the smell of cigarettes and has never smoked. Obesity on both sides of the family Her grandfather just died of heart disease and her father has heart problems as well Diabetes on both sides of the family Non-HDL Cholesterol 145 mg/dl HDL Cholesterol 35 mg/dl BMI 35 Blood Sugar (Glycohemoglobin) 8.9 Keisha has a lot going for her, but there are some warning signs in her health profile. Now that Keisha is old enough to begin making healthy choices, will she turn things around before she develops serious health problems? Play the game to find out! Jack Plaque, Jr. Jack Plaque, Jr. is a 19-year-old male of average height with long eyelashes, in fact, all the girls just love looking into his dark eyes! He has always been a bright, curious boy who has already written his first computer program to help younger kids learn to read! His father plans to make him a partner in the family computer business. He used to enjoy sports, but seems to have less time now. He does not smoke. High blood pressure runs in his family; on both sides Many of his relatives have high cholesterol His grandfathers both died of heart disease and Jack Sr. has chest pain Non-HDL Cholesterol 129 mg/dl HDL Cholesterol 41 mg/dl, but on the high side BMI 31 Blood Sugar (Glycohemoglobin) 6 Jack Jr. was forced to drop out of college to run the family business after Jack Sr. had a major heart attack. Within a few years, he had put on weight and his blood pressure began climbing. Will Jack Jr. develop the same problems as his father and grandfathers? Play the game to find out! 2007 The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 23
Luke Lumen Luke Lumen is a character! He has grown from a curly-headed blonde baby into a tall, handsome, blonde teen (14 years old). Luke is always the center of attention; he makes people laugh. He is smart, and generally does well in school. He loves his skateboard and spends hours practicing. He smoked cigarettes a few times, but chose not to take up the habit. Cardiovascular disease on his father s side of the family Diabetes on his mother s side of the family High cholesterol on this father s side of the family Non-HDL Cholesterol 128 mg/dl HDL Cholesterol 62 mg/dl Blood Pressure Healthy range BMI 22 Blood Sugar (Glycohemoglobin) 8.5 Luke is healthy and happy; he does not worry about the health issues that plague his family members. His doctor wants to do more tests to find out why his blood sugar is a little high. Will Luke be able to avoid health problems that may be looming in his future? Play the game to find out! Otis Media Otis Media was a big baby; his dad had high hopes that Otis would be a football legend! Now, Otis has grown into an affable, smart, curly-headed, obese 15-year-old boy. He never liked sports and the more his parents encouraged, the more Otis wanted to play computer games and watch TV. He and his friends smoke; all the time it seems. Cancer on both sides of the family Heart problems on both sides of his family Onset of diabetes late in life on his mother s side of the family HDL Cholesterol 35 mg/dl BMI 35 Otis seems headed for health problems early on in his life. Otis isn t worried; he tells himself that heart attacks and diabetes are just for old folks and he s only 15. Will Otis make changes in his life to protect his health as he ages? Play the game to find out! 2007 The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 24
Pete Platelet Pete Platelet is a husky, 13-year-old male. He has always been a bright, inquisitive child and has many friends because of his varied interests. Pete loves football and played Little League every year until fifth grade. He has never smoked, although his parents have smoked ever since he was born. Diabetes and obesity are common on both sides of his family Several of Pete s overweight uncles have heart disease No history of cancer Non-HDL Cholesterol 125 mg/dl HDL Cholesterol 38 mg/dl BMI 33 Pete began feeling sluggish and complained of blurry vision; tests showed he has Type 2 diabetes. The doctor said he must lose weight, follow a diabetic diet, to protect his general health and to avoid the risk of developing heart disease. With his diabetes and excess weight, will Pete develop heart disease like his uncles? Play the game to find out! Marty Artery Marty Artery is a challenge! He is smart, athletic, and has had a fiery temper since he was little. Marty is 16 years old now and does well in school, but is always getting into fights with his family and friends. He knows being angry all the time is bad for him, but he just can t help it. His parents signed him up for Soccer when he was younger and the exercise did make him feel better. Now that he s older, however, he doesn t have as much time for sports he s into computer games and TV. He s noticed he can t run as far as he used to without getting winded. Marty does not smoke and hates to be around people who do. Heart disease both sides of the family Diabetes on his father s side of the family Depression is common on his mother s side of the family Non-HDL Cholesterol 128 mg/dl HDL Cholesterol 50 mg/dl BMI 28.5 Marty is flirting with health problems, but does not think much about it. His uncle just had a major heart attack, but Marty figures heart disease is just for older folks. Will Marty follow in the path of his uncle, or will he make healthy changes in time to avoid problems? Play the game to find out! 2007 The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 25