What Causes High Cholesterol In Children?

Children with high cholesterol should not automatically be blamed for their diet or weight. Genetics and underlying medical conditions can play an important role.

Several factors can contribute to elevated cholesterol levels.

1. Unhealthy eating habits: Frequent consumption of foods high in saturated fat, such as fatty or processed meats, butter, cream, pastries and some fried foods, can raise LDL cholesterol.
2. Physical inactivity: Spending long periods sitting and engaging in little physical activity can contribute to an unhealthy lipid profile.
3. Excess weight: Children with overweight or obesity may have higher triglycerides, lower HDL cholesterol and other metabolic risk factors.
4. Family history: High cholesterol can run in families. Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited condition that can cause very high LDL levels even in children who eat well and are physically active.
5. Certain health conditions: Diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disease and some medications can affect cholesterol levels.

Image credit: AI-generated image created with Google Gemini, October 14, 2026