According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five American teens has unhealthy cholesterol levels.  They found out that 20.3% of teens aged 12 to 19 have unhealthy cholesterol levels and most of them are boys.  Teens that weigh more are likely to have higher cholesterol levels but 14 percent of teens with normal body weight have high levels of cholesterol too.

Researchers analyzed the LDL (low density lipoprotein) or the bad cholesterol in teens.  The bad cholesterol can start building up during childhood and adolescence.  If the bad cholesterol builds up, it can clog the arteries causing heart disease.  Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death among adults in the United States.  People should aim for the good cholesterol (HDL or high density lipoprotein) that carries away the bad stuff in our body.

To prevent heart diseases, teens should practice eating healthy foods, stay away or limit the intake of junk foods and exercise regularly or engage themselves in sports.  This will reduce their risk for abnormal lipids and heart diseases in the long run.