Cholesterol Screening For Children

The current epidemic of childhood obesity has prompted concern about the risks of high cholesterol in children, which could lead to heart disease and other health problems later in life. The American Academy of Pediatrics this week released a new study recommending children and adolescents be screened for cholesterol and, if necessary, the use of prescription drugs such as statins, in children as young as eight years old. The authors of the study stress that diet and exercise are still seen as the first resort. Larry talks about the report's implications with pediatrician Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, a member of the AAP Committee on Nutrition that worked on the study, and Andrea Giancoli, LAUSD Nutrition Coordinator.