Cholesterol tests for kids questioned

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that all children should get blood tests for high cholesterol as early as age 9, but doctors are still debating.

Some doctors worry about the long-term effects of cholesterol drugs on a child, or the effects an early diagnosis would have on the child and their family. Dr. Matthew Sadof supports a preventive approach.

Sadof said, “You should adopt a healthy lifestyle of increasing exercise, eating a diet that's relatively low in fat and trying to keep your weight low. That is good sound advice for everyone.”

Dr. Sadof believes instead of screening the entire population, money would be better spent on physical education programs in school, walking to school buses and daily gym classes.