Children With Abnormal Cholesterol Are At Risk For Heart Disease

What Can Parents Do?

The first thing parents need to do is adopt healthy eating and exercise habits as a family. If your children see that you’re eating healthy and exercising, they will follow in your footsteps. Obesity is a big problem in the U.S. and approximately one-third of children and adolescents are either overweight or obese.

Dietary and Lifestyle Tips to Lower Cholesterol

• Limit saturated fats, trans fats, and increase good types of fats, like Omega 3 fatty acids
• Eat more fiber, more beans, oats, barley, fruits and vegetables
• Add an exercise program, at least 30 minutes daily

Unfortunately, there are no visible signs of bad cholesterol until it’s too late, which is why healthcare professionals advise to check cholesterol levels on school-aged children with a simple blood test. It’s especially important if there’s a family history of heart disease, like a parent that has high cholesterol or some type of heart disease.