High levels of cholesterol can lead to heart disease, so it's a good idea to know whether your child is at risk, and how to lower his cholesterol level. Luckily, helping your child have normal cholesterol levels can be as simple as encouraging him to play and exercise daily, and monitoring what types of food you serve him.
Definition
Cholesterol is a fat in the blood that's used to build cells and hormones, and we all need to have some. It comes from eating saturated fat and cholesterol found in animal products like meat, eggs and dairy foods. There are different parts: HDL, or high-density lipoproteins; LDL, or low-density lipoproteins; and triglycerides. All three together are called "total cholestrerol." HDL carries cholesterol from the arteries to the liver, so it's called "good cholesterol." LDL builds up and can eventually clog arteries, so it's called "bad cholesterol."
Risks
If your child's cholesterol level is higher than normal, he has a higher risk of getting clogged blood vessels, and even heart disease. A healthy diet and daily exercise will help your child have lower cholesterol levels.
Screening
If your child fits into a high-risk category for heart disease, he should be screened for high cholesterol levels every one to three years. Risk factors include being overweight or obese, having high blood pressure or diabetes, or having a family history of heart disease or high cholesterol. According to the National Cholesterol Education Project, which is endorsed by the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, this means having a father or grandfather who got heart disease younger than 55; a mother or grandmother who got it before 65; or a parent with a lipid disorder, or cholesterol level of over 240.
Normal Levels
Cholesterol is measured in mg per dL of blood. According to the National Cholesterol Education Program's Expert Panel on Blood Cholesterol in Children and Adolescents, the acceptable level for total cholesterol in kids 2 to 19 years old is less than 170 mg/dL. Their LDL cholesterol should be less than 110 mg/dL, HDL levels should be 35 mg/dL or greater, but preferably over 60, and triglycerides should be 150 mg/dL or less.
Borderline Levels
If your child has 170 to 199 mg/dL total cholesterol, and her LDL cholesterol is 110 to 129 mg/dL, she's on the borderline for healthy levels. Borderline levels for HDL are 40 to 60 mg/dL. Children at this level are usually told to exercise and eat a low-fat diet.
High Levels
A child with 200 mg/dL or more total cholesterol, and 130 mg/dL or more LDL, has a high cholesterol level. HDL levels of less than 40 can also be a problem. If your child has high cholesterol, he'll be given a lipid panel test, which is done after fasting and measures all the types of cholesterol. It will likely be checked again after exercising and eating low-fat foods for 2 to 4 months, and if levels haven't been improved, he might be prescribed medicine.
