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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States. CVD risk factors, including abnormal lipid levels and elevated body mass index (BMI), often emerge during childhood and adolescence . In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) established recommendations for targeted screening of youths who has abnormal blood lipids for 2 years. To provide prevalence data on abnormal lipid levels among youths, eligibility for lipid screening based on BMI, and eligibility for therapeutic lifestyle counseling among overweight youths, CDC analyzed results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for 1999--2006. This report describes the results of that analysis, which found that the prevalence of abnormal lipid levels among youths aged 12--19 years was 20.3%. This prevalence varied by BMI; 14.2% of normal weight youths, 22.3% of overweight and 42.9% of obese had at least one abnormal lipid level. Among all youths, 32% had a high BMI and therefore would be candidates for lipid screening under AAP recommendations. Given the high prevalence of abnormal lipid levels among youths who are overweight and obese in this study, clinicians should be aware of lipid screening guidelines, especially recommendations for screening youths who are overweight or obese. Statin drugs intervention has been suggested on the assumption that it will prevent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, while some others question use statins for such a long period of time. It is very sad that we do not want to take responsibility for our health. It is interesting to note that the more developed country, more issues with obesity, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, whereas developing countries has none of these issues. Nutrition, exercise, stress reduction is the MANTRA of good health, lesser than that we asking for trouble.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) January 22, 2010 / 59(02web page);29-33