The High Cholesterol Epidemic in American Teenagers

A recent medical reports reveals that many American teens are plagued by high levels of bad cholesterol. Generally considered a serious health issue for older adults who have had a poor diet, at least 20 percent of American teenagers have this serious health issue.

In this new study, published by the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the results showed that 20.3 percent of teens had abnormal 'blood lipid' levels - this includes high levels of LDL (the bad) cholesterol and low levels of HDL (the good) cholesterol, along with high levels of trigylcerides which can clog arteries.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is conducted every two years to gather information about various health issues. These finding underscore a serious issue affecting teenagers and the epidemic posed by the nation's obesity problem.

It is worse than we think -

Also found is that fact that along with high cholesterol and obesity, additional serious health problems are also surfacing in teenagers. These include high blood pressure, arthritis and diabetes. An Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the CDC suggests that the epidemic of childhood obesity should be a matter of significant and urgent concern.

Also reported is that the First Lady, Michelle Obama, has announced plans to help lead the nation's efforts to reduce childhood obesity. During a speech to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the First Lady called for improved nutrition, better eating habits and more physical activity.

What next? We as Americans see the devastation of poor quality processed foods that is the standard in our diet. Why do we permit it to be given to our children? Do we need more proof that poor quality foods would naturally cause poor quality health? A couple years ago,  I was relaxing on an Amtrak train (yes, it was way behind schedule) and a young man said he had had a heart attack. He was 25 years old! And he was okay with it.

A Major Food Issue Remains - a problem remains however. We know the facts now about junk 'foods' and many of us are buying and eating fresh whole foods - only to find out that they are GM (genetically modified) and/or irradiated. Another hub writer made an interesting observation - the food he prepared in his restaurant, no longer had an aroma. Could this be a result of GM foods - foods created to have a forever shelf life with little or no nutritional value? It made me realize that I rarely have pleasant food aromas in my kitchen.

Do we honestly believe that flakes shaken from a box (that has been sitting on a grocery shelf forever) and into a bowl, makes up a real breakfast? And we pay top dollar for it. Wouldn't a bowl of soup, or beans and rice left over from the night before make a better breakfast?

- In America we continue to buy and eat foods that are banned in Europe and not even considered to be consumed as nutritious food in other countries (see the link blow).

- We are led to believe that we can't grow enough healthy food to feed the masses, yet Will Allen of Milwaukee created a massive farm right in the City; he got tired of seeing his community suffering a multitude of health issues from poor quality foods. Will Allen has been doing this since 1995, - and he is educating teenagers about growing and eating real foods - and he won a MacArthur Fellowship. (see link below)

I think our mantra needs to change from 'if you make it I will buy it and eat it' to 'prove to me that this stuff is healthy food.'

See many other excellent hubs by other hub writers - about food issues.