Cholesterol: Your Body Weight & BMI as Indicators If you can
pinch an inch at your waist, you probably need to lose some
weight. Being overweight or obese raises your chances of having
high cholesterol, putting you at a higher risk of heart disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
nearly 33 percent of adults are obese, with one in every six
adults having high cholesterol. Maintaining a healthy weight can
help lower your cholesterol. You can find out if you have a
healthy weight by having a doctor calculate your body mass index
(BMI). Doctors also sometimes measure the excess fat located at
the weight to calculate BMI. Eating a balanced diet can help
keep bad cholesterol levels down. Choose foods that are low in
saturated and trans fats, try to eliminate dietary cholesterol
and reduce carbohydrates. Additionally, limit your alcohol
intake, as this can increase blood pressure. Fats such as
monounsaturated and polyunsaturated are safe and can often lower
blood cholesterol levels, and