Should children be screened for cholesterol?

A report published today in the US Journal "Pediatrics" suggests that children should have regular cholesterol screening to prevent against heart problems and high cholesterol later in life.

High cholesterol is often directly related to being overweight and as the number of children suffering from obesity problems rises, so does the number of children with high cholesterol levels. Adults are routinely screened for cholesterol but currently, only children in high-risk categories receive cholesterol tests on a regular basis.

Medical experts are divided as to whether providing cholesterol lowering drugs to children has a positive effect on health, however in many cases cholesterol can be lowered through a controlled diet. Identifying children with high levels of LDL or 'bad'

cholesterol would enable doctors to work with parents to ensure the child is tackling the problem by getting enough exercise and eating a diet low in saturated fats and sugar. 

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