Despite the fact that over 35% of the individuals living in the United States are technically considered obese, fewer U.S. adults suffer from high cholesterol today than they did roughly a decade ago, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

When the CDC conducted their American cholesterol levels survey, data gathered between the years of 1999 and 2000 concluded that approximately 18.3% of the United States adult population had high cholesterol.

By the time the study was conducted again in 2009 and 2010, just 13.4% of the United States population suffered from high cholesterol. This represents a 27% decline in high cholesterol prevalence over the course of just 10 years.

High Cholesterol Differences Among Men and Women

In order to conduct their study, CDC researchers analyzed the health data of 6,000 adults, all of whom were over the age of 20, as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In order for the researchers to collect their data, the subjects underwent blood tests and other physical exams, and completed questionnaires regarding their dietary habits.

During the more recent study, the CDC discovered that high cholesterol is less common among men (12.2%) than women (14.3%). In fact, most age and gender groups experienced declines in high cholesterol prevalence over the course of the decade, with the one exception being women between the ages of 49 and 59. Cholesterol levels largely remained the same for this population group.

The study did include one limitation in that the researchers did not account for whether the individual subjects were taking medication to lower their cholesterol levels.

HDL vs. LDL Cholesterol

When the CDC researchers discuss individuals with high cholesterol, they’re referring to high levels of total cholesterol. There are two forms of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is considered the “good” kind of cholesterol, while low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is considered the “bad” kind.

According to the researchers, individuals with high total cholesterol levels and/or low HDL cholesterol levels are at an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Although more women have high total cholesterol than men, women do a much better job overall of maintaining appropriate HDL cholesterol levels. Approximately 11.9% of female subjects involved in the 2009/2010 CDC study had low HDL cholesterol levels, while a whopping 31.4% of male subjects were found to have the same.

In the context of the study:

• High total cholesterol was defined as greater than 240 mg/dL of blood

• Low HDL cholesterol was defined as less than 40 mg/dL of blood

High Cholesterol Screening Rates Varies by Race

Over 66% of the study participants had been screened for high cholesterol at least once in the five years prior to the study. However, screening rates varied greatly among men and women of different races. The following figures indicate what percentage of the study group received at least one cholesterol screening in the half-decade leading up to the study.

For men

• White – 70%

• Black – 61.8%

• Hispanic – 49.7%

For women

• White – 71%

• Black – 69.7%

• Hispanic – 62.6%

Current American Cholesterol Levels: The Bottom Line

According to a recent study by the CDC, 27% fewer people have high cholesterol today than they did roughly 10 years ago. This may be partially due to the popularity of cholesterol-lowering drugs.

For additional information on cholesterol and how to lower it, please refer to the article we published last year entitled How to Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally.