Child health and nutrition: obesity and high blood cholesterol.

BACKGROUND. The epidemiology of obesity and high blood cholesterol in children is discussed, along with strategies for the prevention of these two disorders and mention of some nutrition and child health research and education programs supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). CONCLUSIONS. Available data confirm that both obesity and high blood cholesterol levels in U.S. children are higher than optimal and that the benefit of reducing the prevalence of these conditions in childhood will be realized in adulthood. Current NHLBI-supported research and education activities focus on unanswered questions about the childhood predictors of transition to the obese state, the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of long-term dietary intervention in children, and the effects of school-based intervention that include classroom curriculum and school environmental changes related to food intake, physical activity, and tobacco use and dissemination of materials that promote nutrition and cardiovascular health in children and adolescents.