The rates are staggering! One in 5 teens have abnormal cholesterol levels – either low HDL-cholesterol, high LDL-cholesterol and/or high triglycerides. And some levels are high enough to warrant a medication discussion! Why so high? Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who reported these stats, feel the obesity problem is a major factor.
If your child is obese, your family physician may have a discussion about getting his/her cholesterol levels checked for a baseline reading, especially if there is early heart disease in the family. At least be open to the discussion.
In the meantime, these study results serve as a reminder that parents need to provide healthy foods in healthy amounts to raise healthy-weight children and teens.
