Can children and adolescents have high cholesterol?
Yes. High cholesterol can develop in early childhood and adolescence, and your risk increases as your weight increases.2 In the United States, more than one-fifth (20%) of youth aged 12–19 years have at least one abnormal lipid level.3 It is important for children over 2 years of age to have their cholesterol checked, if they are overweight/obese, have a family history of high cholesterol, a family history of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or certain chronic condition (chronic kidney disease, chronic inflammatory diseases, congenital heart disease, and childhood cancer survivorship.4 The National Cholesterol Education Program has developed specific recommendations about cholesterol treatment for people at increased risk, such as those with a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease.
