Cholesterol used to be something that only adults worried about, part of the ever-growing battery of tests tacked on as people aged. This worry has now made its way to the pediatrician’s office. According to recent recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), all children should have regular cholesterol screening regardless of their medical history.
This recommendation was implemented because over 30 percent of kids with high cholesterol were missed. Screening between ages 9 and 11 was already recommended to parents to prevent heart disease, but pediatricians have found many children under the age of 9 could also be at risk for heart disease and diabetes. Screening at a younger age will allow parents to make changes earlier to prevent trouble down the road, such as dietary changes and encouraging exercise.
“By fourth grade, between 10 and 13 percent of American children have high cholesterol (level 200 or greater),” says James Ebert, MD, lead physician of Dayton Children’s lipid clinic. “Delaying screening until the 20s or 30s misses important opportunities for early prevention of cardiovascular disease.”
High cholesterol can be caused from hereditary factors, diet and obesity. However, there are many ways to lower a child’s cholesterol just by changing a few things in their lifestyle:
Trim the fat. The amount of fat a child consumes daily should be 30 percent or less of his or her total calories. Saturated fat should be less than 10 percent.
Fill up on fiber and fish. Soluble fiber, found in foods like oatmeal or apples, keeps some cholesterol from getting into the bloodstream. The fat found in fish, such as salmon and tuna, is actually a "good" fat. The omega-d fatty acids can reduce blood pressure.
Getty nutty. Nuts also have "good" fat. A handful a day can help keep bad cholesterol down.
Exercise regularly. Even in the winter, kids need to be active but exercise doesn't have to be boring. Get out a dancing video game or set up an obstacle course in the basement.
Take them to an indoor swimming pool, basketball court, bounce house or amusement center. Any activity can help raise HDL levels (the “good” cholesterol) and lower your child’s risk for cardiovascular disease.
Implementing new healthy habits in you and or your child’s life could stop your child from having high cholesterol as an adult and give them a healthier future overall. Be sure to check with your child’s pediatrician about cholesterol tests. If your child needs extra help to correct high cholesterol, your pediatrician can refer him or her to the lipid clinic at Dayton Children’s.
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