One in Five Kids Has Unhealthy Cholesterol

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According to a recent study, 21% of American children over the age of 5 have some form of “abnormal” blood cholesterol reading that leaves them at a greater risk for heart disease and stroke in adulthood.

The study was conducted between 2011-2014 federal health data by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Overall, more than 13% of kids had unhealthy low levels of HDL, or “good,” cholesterol. The CDC also says just says over 8% had levels of other forms of cholesterol that are bad for arteries. More than 7% had unhealthily high levels of “total” cholesterol.

Obesity is a main cause for these trends, according to the CDC. More than 43% of obese children surveyed reported some form of abnormal cholesterol reading.

“When one looks at the data it is clear that the obesity epidemic is responsible for a substantial portion of these abnormal cholesterol values,” said Dr. Michael Pettei, co-director of preventative cardiology at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NJ. “Approximately one-third of U.S. children and adolescents are either overweight or obese.”

Rates of abnormal cholesterol readings rose as kids have aged. While slightly more than 6% of children aged 6-8 had high levels of bad cholesterol; that number doubled for kids age 16-19.