Surprise findings from an Australian study

Reseach into the health of women as young as 25 has revealed a disturbing number with high cholesterol – an important risk factor for heart disease.

The Melbourne study involved testing of 157 women in the south-eastern suburbs. Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health dietitian, Cate Lombard, discovered a surprisingly high number of younger women had high cholesterol levels in preliminary results.

Of the 157 tested, 35 per cent had abnormal blood lipid levels, including a cholesterol level higher than 5.5. In Australia the recommended level for cholesterol is below 5.5. It appears the harmful changes in lipid levels in women may be occurring at a much earlier age than previously thought.

As blood cholesterol rises, so does risk of coronary heart disease. When other risk factors such as high blood pressure and tobacco smoke are present, this risk increases even more. A woman’s cholesterol level is also affected by age, family history, diabetes and diet.

As little as four per cent of women see heart disease as a health risk when they actually face a 50 per cent likelihood of being affected, according to American research.

Disturbingly, two thirds of sudden cardiac deaths occur in women who had no previous symptoms.

Young women are rarely tested for high cholesterol. Ms Lombard is calling on health professionals to discuss lifestyle issues with younger women and to test cholesterol levels for those at risk.

“Perhaps we should think of 30 as the new 50. We should be aware of the need to monitor younger women for health conditions traditionally attributed to older people,” Ms Lombard says.

The study involves 260 women aged between 25 and 53. “The group are all mothers of young children and are representative of Australian women,” Ms Lombard says.

“Our preliminary results indicate that this young age group is at risk,” she says. “We wouldn’t normally think of them as being at risk of high cholesterol as a woman’s hormones helps protect her before until around the time of menopause.”

“It really is a concern that so many women around their 30s and 40s have high cholesterol and high lipid levels, particularly if it is combined with an unhealthy lifestyle, such as low physical activity levels and a diet high in saturated fat or an increase in weight, especially around the waist.”

According to Ms Lombard, one mother with young children, aged in her forties, was shocked to find she had a cholesterol level of 8.0mmol. Her risk of heart disease is increased because of her lifestyle. “Becoming aware of her cholesterol levels has helped motivate her to change her diet and activity levels. Through this study we will support her behaviour change over the next year.”

“We can have a real impact on the health and lives of these women by intervening early and possibly prevent some of these mums from having heart attacks and strokes later in life,” she notes.

The study revealed other interesting findings. Some 70 per cent of participants were dieting or had been in the last 12 months and 92 per cent were unhappy with their body shape and size and wanted to lose weight. This indicates that women are trying to change their diet and weight but are not always successful. This research will be trying to provide the skills needed to make the changes to lifestyle permanent.

Media Information

For more information or an interview with Cate Lombard, please call Aleeza Zohar on (03) 9562 6771 or 0425 758 729.

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