In April this year I lost my father, a great friend and a wonderful man, to a sudden and massive heart attack. A film, television and theatre director of great talent, passion and energy, he died while rehearsing his actors for a forthcoming theatre production. Laughing and joking with them as he worked, he suddenly turned, went pale and, gentleman to the last, said “excuse me” as he fell to the floor. He was only 67, apparently healthy and had no history of heart disease.

My father was incredibly energetic: a brilliant, vibrant man, and I still feel the shock and overwhelming sadness of his absence. At 38 I am too young not to have him in my life and I miss his love, support, kindness and friendship. I know my feelings will resonate with other people who have lost loved ones to heart disease. It is a killer that often strikes without warning — although looking back on my father’s life, there were signs.

Tragically, the great knowledge we now have about health and the prevention of disease has come too late for many of the older generations. But how ironic that while the research is becoming more sophisticated and health threats better understood, our children, the next generation, are getting heavier, laying down the health risks suffered by their grandparents. Coronary heart disease is the single biggest killer in Britain: every two minutes someone has a heart attack. Lack of exercise and a poor diet are the major contributory factors to heart disease.

In my work I meet greater numbers of overweight and obese children and this is worrying to me, both as a clinician and as a mother of a ten-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son. Like most parents, I am focused on the mental and physical wellbeing of my children but at this moment I am acutely aware of the forthcoming developmental challenges of my daughter as she moves from primary to secondary education and enters puberty — a time that signals huge steps towards independence.

Many children and their parents find this experience exciting — and overwhelming: the developmental transitions are vast, emotionally, socially, psychologically and biologically. Today, children are expected — and encouraged — to make independent choices from a much earlier age. But given the growing rates of childhood obesity and, on the flipside, eating disorders, as well as teenage pregnancy, I wonder and worry about how well equipped our children are to make these choices, particularly those about diet.

It is at secondary level that kids usually come into contact with fizzy-drink machines and sweet and crisps dispensers. Often lunch is carbohydrate-laden with little choice of salad and vegetables. I want my daughter to be able to navigate through the day in a healthy way. This is not about deprivation or just prohibiting the sweet treats. It’s about finding that balance, and enabling kids to understand that they are in control and have choices. And it’s not just the quality of the food, but the quantity — the portions of food we are offered can be huge. For our children to make healthy choices they must be educated. This is why the British Heart Foundation is this week launching its Food 4 Thought Campaign; it will target 11 to 12-year-old children — those starting their secondary education — in the hope that at this age they will learn how to make informed choices about food (although the message is pertinent to all families). Of course, it is not just the food that counts. When I work clinically with families often I need to help the parents to understand the importance of spending fun time with their kids — walking, swimming, running or bike riding are fun to do as a family and will keep young hearts fit. Children should be taking about an hour’s exercise every day to maintain their average fitness — at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise that raises the heart rate.

These days many young children are driven everywhere, largely because of fears for their safety. And they remain indoors with TV and computer games — inactive.

Lack of exercise and an unbalanced diet can lead to stress and depression, something I see a lot more in my work with even very young children. Endorphins are essential to our sense of wellbeing and the more we exercise, the more endorphins we release. Staying involved in physical activity and sport can have an impact on a young person’s feelings of self-esteem.

I am sure that had my father had access to better information, at an earlier age, he would have modified his food and exercise habits and thought more about his overall health and wellbeing. After his death, we learnt that his arteries had been severely furred; his huge drive and energy had masked the time-bomb ticking away in his chest. My father (pictured above) might also have thought about reducing his stress levels, all of which contributed to increased strain on his heart.

But messages about healthy diet and lifestyle didn’t figure when he was growing up. However, we can use what we now know to shape our children’s attitudes, beliefs and behaviour. We can also act as role models, leading them by example.

Please look through the BHF information packs and discuss with your child the vital advice and messages within. Just as you encourage your child to work hard at school, help him or her to understand, too, that their heart is the key to a long and healthy life.

The “Food 4 Thought” Campaign for the British Heart Foundation: www.bhf.org.uk/food