Obesity and Dyslipidemia

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity among school age children is increasing exponentially over the past 3 decades. Dyslipidemia is defined as: Total cholesterol (TC) >200 mg/dL HDL-C <45 mg/dL LDL-C >130 mg/dL Triglycerides >150 mg/dL in adolescents and >130 mg/dL in children Early screening (between 2 and 8 years of age) should be done in all of the following high-risk groups: Family history of early coronary artery disease or stroke Familial dyslipidemia BMI >85‰ History of Kawasaki disease Active kidney disease or who have received a kidney transplant After heart transplant Type I or II diabetes Congenital heart disease Cancer treatment survivors Pharmacotherapy should be used in patients greater than 8 years of age with total cholesterol persistently higher than 190 mg/dL despite changes in lifestyle and diet. Pharmacotherapy includes agents such as: Bile acid sequestrants Niacin Fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors: such as Statins Cholesterol absorption inhibitors