As many as one in five American adolescents has LDL （bad） cholesterol levels that are too high and HDL （good） cholesterol levels that are too low -- a fact that many doctors say means that it may be time to start regular cholesterol screening as part of back-to-school check-ups.

American teens -- already identified as too often out-of-shape and overweight -- are also at risk for cholesterol problems once thought to be seen only in the middle-aged.

The CDC, which released the new cholesterol findings the Jan. 22 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, said high triglyceride levels are also a problem for adolescents.

The numbers come from a nationwide survey conducted from 1999 through 2006 known as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey （NHANES）. This survey found that 20.3 percent of 12- to 19-year-olds had higher-than-normal levels of LDL cholesterol or triglycerides, or low levels of HDL cholesterol.

But solutions may be more difficult. "This problem is self-induced -- perhaps with some genetic predisposition -- and therefore can be self-corrected," said Zanga, who is chief of pediatrics at Medical College of Georgia in Columbus. "Americans must take major responsibility for their health. Diet, exercise [and] non-smoking lifestyle is what these children need."

Moreover, the numbers suggest bigger problems ahead for the American healthcare system, said Barbara Moore, president and CEO of Shape Up America.

"They suggest that 15 or 20 years down the road, when we expect these young people to be productive, hard-working adults contributing to society, they will instead be disabled, crippled by heart attacks, strokes and facing expensive treatments, surgery and rehabilitation. This is not a pretty picture."

应该检测青少年的高血脂吗

每五个美国青少年中就有一人有低密度脂蛋白（对人体有害）含量过高而高密度脂蛋白水平过低（对人体有益）的 .针对这种实际情况许多医生建议说，目前应该着手对在校生进行定期的胆固醇荧光检测，并把它列为体检的一部分。

根据美国疾病预防控制中心一项新的报告显示，美国青少年中形体异常和超重的现象非常常见 ,由胆固醇高而引发的疾病风险也只有到中年时期才被发现。疾病预防控制中心在1月第22期疾病的周发病率和死亡率中发布了新的胆固醇检测报告，对青少年来说高甘油三酯水平也是一个不小的问题。

这组数字来自于1999年--2006年全国性的调查也被称为国家健康和营养检测调查（NHANES）.这项调查显示，20.3%的12至19岁的青少年中低密度脂蛋白或甘油三酯水平会高于正常范围，或高密度脂蛋白含量低。

但是，解决此问题可能会更加困难，赞加，他是哥伦布乔治亚医学院儿科主任，他说"这个问题是自我导致的 , 也许会有某些遗传因素在内 , 因此可以采取自我纠正的措施。"他还说：" 美国人必须为他们的健康负主要责任，饮食、运动和非吸烟的生活方式都是儿童所需要的。"

此外，这组数字对于美国医疗系统来说将面临着更多的问题，总裁兼美国首席形势执行官巴巴拉姆说："医生的报告和建议还表明，15年或20年后我们会看到这些青年人将走这样一条路，当我们希望这些青年人成为生产、劳动、奉献社会的成年人时，他们却由于患心脏病，中风等而成为了残废，同时还要面对昂贵的医疗、手术和康复费用，这简直是一幅悲惨的图画。"