Cholesterol moves through the bloodstream attached to proteins. This combination of cholesterol and proteins is what makes up a lipoprotein. There are different kinds of cholesterol that are dependent on what the lipoprotein carries. These are:

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL). This is the bad cholesterol. LDL cholesterol can build up on the walls of the arteries and make them narrow and hard.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL). This is the good cholesterol. This is the stuff that collects cholesterol and takes it back to the liver.

Factors that contribute to cholesterol problems are inactivity, an unhealthy diet, and obesity. These increase cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Other factors can contribute to high cholesterol levels such as genetic makeup that makes it difficult for the body to remove LDL cholesterol from the blood, or decrease the ability of the liver to break it down.

These are medical conditions that can cause high cholesterol levels:

• Diabetes
• Chronic kidney disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Hypothyroidism
• Lupus

Medications can make cholesterol problems worse, such as medications for:

• Acne
• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS
• Hypertension
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Organ transplants

Cholesterol isn’t considered to be a trigger for weight gain. There is a connection between cholesterol and weight gain and that is the foods that lead to high cholesterol are also foods that contribute to weight gain. These are foods that are high in calories and saturated fats.

There is a correlation between weight and cholesterol.

This doesn’t have a direct answer. As in the previous question, there is often a relationship between cholesterol levels and weight. That is because the foods that increase weight are most likely to be the foods that increase cholesterol levels. Thus, reducing the consumption of those foods should help to bring down weight and make it more manageable.

More importantly, the relationship between cholesterol and weight is to be noted. When one loses weight, often cholesterol levels can go down. It isn’t so much that reducing cholesterol will reduce weight, it is the loss of weight that lowers cholesterol since the diet and activities involved in that make the difference.

Being overweight raises your chances of having too much LDL, or bad cholesterol in the blood. This increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. For every 10 pounds, you are overweight, your body will produce up to 10 milligrams of extra cholesterol each day.

Your body needs cholesterol, your liver makes it to build cells and store fat. Your body also needs to make vitamin D.

Being overweight or obese increases the odds of high cholesterol because it impacts how your body makes and manages lipoproteins, including triglycerides and cholesterol. Being overweight increases the fat tissue in your body which increases the amount of free fatty acids that go to the liver. This is even more problematic if you have extra weight around your middle.

Cape Fear Physical Medicine & Rehab can help you get on the path to lowering your cholesterol levels and improving your health and longevity. Our team specializes in weight loss programs that can improve many areas of your life. Give us a call and set up an appointment. We serve patients from Fayetteville NC, Hope Mills NC, Cedar Creek NC, Eastover NC, Woodfield NC, and Fenix NC.