High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
High cholesterol in children and teens is often managed through lifestyle changes, as it can lead to long-term risks like coronary artery disease.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in all the cells in the body. While the body needs some cholesterol to work properly, high cholesterol can stick to the walls of arteries, narrowing or blocking them, which puts children and teens at risk of coronary artery disease and other heart diseases.
What causes high cholesterol in children and teens?
Three main factors contribute to high cholesterol in children and teens:
- An unhealthy diet, especially one high in saturated fats
- A family history of high cholesterol
- Having obesity
Some diseases, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and certain thyroid diseases, can also cause high cholesterol.
Symptoms
There are usually no signs or symptoms that your child or teen has high cholesterol.
Diagnosis
A blood test measures total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, non-HDL, and triglycerides. Healthy levels for those aged 19 or younger are:
- Total Cholesterol: Less than 170 mg/dL
- Non-HDL: Less than 120 mg/dL
- LDL: Less than 110 mg/dL
- HDL: More than 45 mg/dL
General testing recommendations include a first test between ages 9 and 11, with follow-ups every 5 years. Children with a family history of high cholesterol, heart attack, or stroke may start testing at age 2.
Treatment & Management
Lifestyle changes are the main treatment:
- Being more active: Get regular physical activity and reduce sedentary time.
- Healthy eating: Limit foods high in saturated fat, sugar, and cholesterol; eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Losing weight: If your child or teen is overweight or has obesity.
If lifestyle changes are insufficient, a health care provider may consider cholesterol medicines if the child is at least 10 years old and meets specific high-risk criteria, such as having an LDL level higher than 190 mg/dL, an LDL higher than 160 mg/dL with high heart disease risk, or familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).