About 7% of US children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 have high total cholesterol

The FINANCIAL — High levels of cholesterol are a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

As the chart shows, the age-standardized share of American adults with unhealthy cholesterol levels has declined over the past 25 years. Age-standardized means the data accounts for the rising age of the population over time.

High total cholesterol in the United States

Between 2017 and 2020, 10% of adults age 20 or older had total cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dL. About 17% had high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol levels below 40 mg/dL

Data comes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a national study conducted every two years. In this study, blood measurements are taken from thousands of people to monitor these trends.

People with diabetes or high cholesterol may be less likely to develop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or other motor neuron diseases (MNDs), but heart and metabolism problems are linked with faster disease progression and worse survival rates among people who already have MND.

One important reason for the decline in cholesterol is the use of statins. Statins are prescribed to effectively reduce levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. These reduce the formation of cholesterol-filled plaques in the arteries and, thereby, the rates of heart attacks and strokes.

As the chart shows, statins have become more commonly used among adults eligible to take them.

Along with other medications, surgeries, and public health efforts, they’ve helped turn cardiovascular diseases into more manageable conditions. In the US, the age-standardized death rate from cardiovascular diseases has declined for decades and is almost four times lower today than in 1950

According to official statistics slightly more than half of US adults (54.5%, or 47 million people) who could benefit from cholesterol medicine are currently taking it.

About 86 million US adults age 20 or older have total cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dL. Nearly 25 million adults in the United States have total cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dL.

About 7% of US children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 have high total cholesterol.

High total cholesterol levels vary by race/ethnicity and gender

The chart below shows the prevalence of high total cholesterol (240 mg/dL or more) among adults age 20 and older in the United States from 2017 to 2020.1

What are the worst foods for high cholesterol?

1. Fried foods

Sure, French fries and mozzarella sticks may be tasty, but if they are made using partially hydrogenated oils or fried in butter or shortening, they contribute to elevated LDLs. What’s more, fried foods are often high in calories due to all the oil they absorb during frying. In other words, they’re not great for your waistline. Other products with high level of bad cholesterol according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are:

2. Processed meats

Processed meat includes bacon, ham, hot dogs, sausage, and other meats that have been altered from their natural form through curing, smoking, and salting. These foods tend to be high in artery-clogging saturated fat as well as sodium, which can contribute to hypertension.

3. Baked goods

Sugar has been found to lower levels of beneficial high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. It also triggers higher levels of triglycerides (a blood fat), which can elevate heart attack risk.

4. Red meat (beef, pork, and lamb)

Red meat is generally high in saturated fat and cholesterol, especially ground beef, ribs, pork chops, and steak.

5. Refined carbohydrates (white bread, pasta, rice)