Quick Study: Children's Cholesterol Levels Are Down, Obesity Still High
The study: Children’s cholesterol levels are on the decline, says a study this week in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. Researchers examined trends in lipid levels among 16,116 U.S. children age 6 to 19. From 1988 through 1994 11.3 percent of kids had elevated total cholesterol; that dropped to 8.1 percent from 2007 through 2010. In that time, average total cholesterol dropped from 165 mg/dL to 160 mg/dL. However, one in ten children still has high cholesterol, and childhood obesity levels remain high.
Among the study authors’ theories for why the numbers dropped are declines in smoking and in the use of trans fats in processed foods.
MORE: AMA Says Kids Need To Be Educated About Obesity
What we already know: Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, begins early in life. If not treated or addressed, it can develop into coronary artery disease in adulthood.
What it means for you: Parents of young children may not think that what they feed their kids matters, but it does. If children develop a liking for fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains early on, it’s likely those habits will carry over into adolescence and adulthood, helping to prevent serious diseases.
What’s the best way to get kids to eat their vegetables? Let us know in the comments.
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• Western Diet-Related Health Crisis Invades Asia
Jeannine Stein, a California native, wrote about health for the Los Angeles Times. In her pursuit of a healthy lifestyle she has taken countless fitness classes, hiked in Nepal, and has gotten in a boxing ring. Email Jeannine | TakePart.com
