American teens high cholesterol

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that 20.3 percent of young Americans aged 12 to 19, and more boys than girls, had unhealthy cholesterol levels. The researchers analyzed measurements of low-density lipoprotein -- LDL or so-called bad cholesterol; high-density lipoprotein, the HDL or "good," cholesterol; and triglycerides. Bad cholesterol can help clog arteries while good cholesterol carries away the bad stuff. Unhealthy cholesterol levels lead to heart disease, the No. 1 cause of death among adults in America.

High cholesterol levels are linked to obesity, and emerge from unhealthy habits acquired during childhood and adolescence. One way to tackle this problem is to provide healthy food in schools and encourage teens to play sports and exercise. Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California, said, "There is a clear need for aggressive preventive public health measures such as providing quality nutrition at schools, promoting physical activity in schools and the community, and implementing childhood obesity prevention programs."