Has your overweight child been checked for lipid abnormalities? Overweight or obese children should have a fasting lipid profile, with consideration for statin therapy to lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) if it is sufficiently high and diet and exercise have failed to help, says the American Heart Association.
Research now shows that atherosclerotic disease begins in childhood, with factors such as physical inactivity, obesity, high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), and high blood pressure accelerating the process.
In the past, exercise and diet were the only interventions available to help to improve or reverse early atherosclerotic changes. But the FDA has recently approved several statins, which are medicines used to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood, for use in children
Statin therapy should be considered for those children with an LDL of higher than 190mg/dL or 160mg/dL for those with a family history of early cardiovascular disease or risk factors themselves for cardiovascular disease.
While statins are not recommended for boys younger than 10 or girls before they have begun menses, younger children with additional risk factors may be considered for this therapy.
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