A friend called this weekend to ask what I would recommend for her two children – 8 and 11 years old – that were just diagnosed with high cholesterol.

Now it’s a little horrifying to hear about children with high cholesterol, but none of us should really be too surprised. Two recent studies indicate that obesity in children has been skyrocketing. And, with increased weight comes other serious risk factors like diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol problems. Just because they’re young doesn’t make children immune to conditions generally associated with adults.

Government statistics show that 15% of all American children between the ages of 6 and 19 were overweight in 2000. But, in just 4 years, things look like they’ve changed! A study published in June of 2004 found that 40% of rural Arkansas children were overweight.

And, according to a study just published as part of a series in the American Journal of Public Health, more than 40% of New York City public-school students are overweight, and nearly 25% are obese. But, do we really need these studies to tell us there’s a problem?

All is not lost! Isn’t that good news? Because of their age, many of these problems in children can be reversed – if caught soon enough – through proper diet and exercise. But, changing their already ingrained poor eating habits is another story altogether.

It would be best if the entire family were to make positive changes in the foods they eat and the amount of exercise they are getting. Families need to switch to a whole food diet (whole grains, fruits, veggies, etc) and avoid anything processed. Stay away from high glycemic foods like sweets, snacks, white bread and fruit juices. This is a MUST for the health of the children!

I would also suggest that the entire family add oily fish like salmon, tuna, herring or mackerel to their diet at least 3 times a week. If that’s not possible, they should all be supplementing with a high quality omega 3 fish oil supplement. I have an omega 3 comparison on my site if you’d like to see how to evaluate a supplement.

The results children will get depend on whether or not they change the foods they’re eating and the amount of exercise they’re getting. Remember, this is NOT a cure for cholesterol problems, but a healthy solution for the body to do its job correctly.