Summary: New evidence shows that lots of children may be headed for heart trouble later in life. That's because about one-third of kids ages 9 to 11 have been found to have high levels of cholesterol. All the more reason to follow recommendations to have your kids cholesterol levels tested early and to develop healthy eating and fitness habits now, when your kids are still little, for a lifetime of good health.
By Sharon Mazel | Posted: March 28, 2014
Recent guidelines from the AAP recommend that all children ages 9 to 11 get screened for cholesterol levels, and a new study bolsters that recommendation, finding that more than a third of all preteens have unhealthy cholesterol levels, putting them at higher risk of heart disease later in life.
The study, which is being presented at the American College of Cardiology conference in Washington, DC, looked at nearly 13,000 kids having routine physicals from January 2010 to July 2011 in Houston, Texas. One-third of the kids were Hispanic, about one-third were white, and 18 percent were black. About one-third of the children were obese.
Doctors found unhealthy total cholesterol levels in 34 percent of the children. Around half of the kids had LDL (bad cholesterol) levels that were too high. Around 50 percent of the kids had HDL (good cholesterol) levels that were too low. High total cholesterol levels were more common among boys, Hispanics, and those who were obese.
"The sheer number of kids with abnormal lipid profiles provides further evidence that this is a population that needs attention and could potentially benefit from treatment," said the study author. "But we can only intervene if we diagnose the problem."
High cholesterol doesn't necessarily mean a child needs medicine, but since an elevated level of cholesterol as a kid could impact long term health and increase the risk of heart disease as an adult, screenings like the one recommended are so important – especially because high cholesterol rarely causes symptoms in kids and otherwise would be missed.
"We know that higher levels of, and cumulative exposure to, high cholesterol is associated with the development and severity of [heart disease]," the author said. "If we can identify and work to lower cholesterol in children, we can potentially make a positive impact by stalling vascular changes and reducing the chances of future disease."
This study confirms previous research that has found that the heart health of kids in this country isn't so great, and it's why parents need to help their children develop healthy lifestyle habits as early as possible. Even the toddler years aren't too early to establish habits that can lead to a lifetime of health. So teach the value of healthy eating (be sure to offer lots of fruits, veggies, lean proteins, and dairy or dairy substitutes that are low-fat and rich in calcium, and steer clear of junk food as often as possible), limit TV time (since too much TV makes kids more likely to be overweight), and make exercise and staying fit a priority in your household.
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