Cholesterol Tests Urged for All Children

Every U.S. child should get a test for high cholesterol between ages 9 and 11, an expert panel says. U.S. health officials appointed the panel to update testing advice. The largest group of U.S. children’s doctors endorsed the group as well. In the past, only children with an increased risk of high cholesterol had been tested. But that practice has missed many children. An estimated 10% to 13% of U.S. fourth graders have high cholesterol. Doctors recommend exercise and diet improvements first for kids with this condition. But some also take medicine. The expert panel said kids should not get medicine before age 10 unless cholesterol problems are severe. The new guidelines also call for diabetes tests every 2 years for children who have a high risk of developing this disease. This includes kids who are overweight or have a family member with diabetes. Tests would start at age 9.