According to a report released in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on January 22, 2010, 20% of teens show cholesterol levels that are too high. The study looked at 3,125 teens, between the ages of 12 and 19, and found abnormal lipid levels in 1 in 5 of them. Healthy cholesterol levels are indicated by high HDL and low LDL levels, but the opposite pattern was seen in many teens.
Differences found in cholesterol levels between sexes, ages and races
In the study, the researchers noted that more boys than girls exhibited higher cholesterol levels. They also found a correlation between age and lipid levels, with older teens having lower levels of good HDL cholesterol. White teens also tended to have lower HDL levels than black teens in the study. And while obese teens do tend to have higher cholesterol levels than non-obese teens, many of the teens in the study who showed high LDL and low HDL levels were of normal weight.
Screening tests recommended for teen cholesterol levels
The researchers recommend screening teens for cholesterol levels, since high cholesterol can lead to heart disease down the road. The American Academy of Pediatrics already recommends screening of children between 2 and 10 who have a family history of high cholesterol levels or heart disease.
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