While high cholesterol is usually thought of as a problem that most affects middle-aged adults, a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that younger children may be suffering from it in increased numbers as well.
According to the study, which studied adolescents from 1999-2006, the prevalence of abnormal lipid levels – which indicated high cholesterol – among 12-19-year-olds was 20.3 percent.
Additionally, while only 14.2 percent of those at a normal weight were found to have high cholesterol, 42.9 percent of those who were considered "obese" had at least one abnormal lipid level.
"Obesity may be linked to these high levels," said Ashleigh May, an epidemic intelligence service officer with the CDC and the author of the report, according to Healthday News. "Forty-three percent of obese youth are eligible for therapeutic lifestyle counseling, and 22 percent of overweight youth were also eligible," she added.
Because of the high predominance of children who may already be suffering from high cholesterol, they may stand an increased risk of falling ill to other medical problems associated with having high lipid levels.
If families are concerned they may not have the funding to allow for children who may be at risk from getting tested properly, taking out a payday loan may be able to finance a potentially lifesaving trip to the doctor.
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