New guidelines recommend treating high cholesterol in some youths

Time was when only adults needed to consider talking to their doctor about a prescription to buy Lipitor to manage their cholesterol levels. However, thanks to rising obesity rates among children, officials are warning that parents may want to think about ways to protect their children's heart health.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recently issued new guidelines regarding the treatment of cholesterol among young people. The agency said that obese young people should be tested for high cholesterol. About 1 percent of these individuals will likely need to start taking medications to control the condition.

It is well recognized that obese children are more likely to have high cholesterol. However, it is somewhat unclear whether this will directly translate to cardiovascular risk in adulthood. To address this question, the new guidelines unequivocally state that unhealthy cholesterol during adolescence leads to a lifetime of heart health trouble.

The new guidelines could have a major impact on the way high cholesterol is treated in children. The report states that upwards of 200,000 young people could end up being given a prescription to buy Lipitor.