Cholesterol in Children and Teens
Overview
A child may have a higher chance of having high cholesterol if they:
- Are overweight.
- Do not exercise much.
- Do not eat healthy foods.
- Have a family history of high cholesterol.
Cholesterol tests for children and teens
Your child's doctor may suggest a cholesterol test based on your child's age, a physical exam of your child, or their family history.
Cholesterol problems that are passed down in families are common and can cause heart disease early in life. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends that every child have a cholesterol test after age 2, ideally during their first 10 years of life.
You can ask your child's doctor if your child should have a cholesterol test.
Cholesterol levels for children and teens
For children and teens:footnote 1, footnote 2
| Total cholesterol | LDL cholesterol |
Best | Less than 4.4 millimoles per litre (mmol/L) | Less than 2.8 mmol/L |
Borderline high | 4.4–5.1 | 2.8–3.3 |
High | 5.2 or above | 3.4 or above |
The goal numbers for HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides can depend on your child's age and gender.
Treatment for high cholesterol
Your doctor may ask that your child eat healthy foods, lose extra weight, and be more active. Work with your doctor or a dietitian to make diet changes so that your child can get proper nutrition while trying to lower cholesterol.
Less often, medicines, such as a statin, may be used to help lower cholesterol levels.
If you have concerns about your child's cholesterol, talk with your doctor.
References
Citations
- Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents (2011). Expert panel on integrated guidelines for cardiovascular health and risk reduction in children and adolescents: Summary report. Pediatrics, 128(Suppl 5): S213–S256.
- Grundy SM, et al. (2018). 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association task force on clinical practice guidelines. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, published online November 8, 2018: S0735. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.11.003. Accessed January 28, 2019.
Credits
Adaptation Date: 07/07/2026
Adapted By: Alberta Health Services
Adaptation Reviewed By: Alberta Health Services
Adaptation Date: 07/07/2026
Adapted By: Alberta Health Services
Adaptation Reviewed By: Alberta Health Services
Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents (2011). Expert panel on integrated guidelines for cardiovascular health and risk reduction in children and adolescents: Summary report. Pediatrics, 128(Suppl 5): S213–S256.
Grundy SM, et al. (2018). 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association task force on clinical practice guidelines. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, published online November 8, 2018: S0735. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.11.003. Accessed January 28, 2019.
