Possible testing kids’ cholesterol levels causes concern

PHOENIX —
A government recommendation that all children be tested for cholesterol is causing an uproar in the medical community.

Dr. Steve Narang, chief medical officer at Cardon Children’s Hospital in Mesa, said screening is necessary, but parents and doctors need to use common sense.

“The challenge is, when you start cholesterol screening, you begin to maybe create a culture where you’re treating these kids with medications, as opposed to good, old-fashioned exercise, dietary change,” he said.

Narang said a simple screening process can often catch any sort of childhood disease.

“Let’s not go overboard and test everybody, but let us screen everybody for obesity, high (body mass index),” he said. “Let’s really start changing their diets and exercise habits.”