Cholesterol is a normal body substance created for the use in different areas in your body but when elevated can cause adverse outcomes including death.  Cholesterol has both good and bad components which are typically screened by pediatricians as part of the normal health exams in children.  If found to be abnormal then children are typically referred for continued evaluation and treatment.  Many studies have been done to demonstrate long term elevated cholesterol levels are associated with heart disease and especially coronary artery disease.  This is commonly an adult problem but recent studies also demonstrate that preventing high cholesterol in pediatric patients can prevent the adverse outcomes seen in adults.  In addition, many adult problems such as high cholesterol, obesity and other adult problems are being identified more in pediatric patients due to their inactivity and poor dietary habits.