Positive Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity on Serum Lipids in Children

Abstract

Abstract Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the No. 1 killer of adults in North America, and one of the principal causes is hypercholesterolemia, or elevated levels of serum cholesterol. While there are a number of non-modifiable risk factors which affect a person's cholesterol levels, several modifiable risk factors also have been identified. Physical inactivity, a modifiable risk factor, is now considered to be a primary risk factor for CHD. Research indicates that regular physical activity and subsequent high levels of aerobic fitness are valuable in the prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolemia in adults. Atherosclerosis, a consequence of high cholesterol levels, has been found to begin in infancy. Fatty streaks have been identified in the aortas of children three years of age, and have also been observed in the coronary arteries of 10-year-olds. Because atherosclerosis can begin in childhood, the early years of life are a good time to begin healthy lifestyle activities, including regular physical activity. Research clearly suggests that regular physical activity and exercise can have a positive effect on serum lipid levels in children. It is essential that regular physical activity and exercise be promoted in children to reduce the risks associated with elevated levels of cholesterol which in time lead to CHD.