Abnormalities of the lipid panel (also called the cholesterol panel) are hallmarks of metabolic disease caused by obesity. They can be of serious consequence.

If your triglycerides (tiny fat molecules) get high enough, your blood will look like melted butter. High triglycerides can also fry up a digestive organ in your body called the pancreas. Pancreatitis is considered one of the most painful abdominal conditions.

LDL Cholesterol has an L in its name for being LETHAL. It’s a bad guy that increases the amount of plaque in your arteries. Clogging up your pipes limits your blood flow. If the blood flow to your brain stops you have a stroke. If the blood flow stops going to your heart, you have a heart attack. Losing weight can significantly help lower your LDL cholesterol, saving you from heart disease and potentially harmful cholesterol medicines.

HDL Cholesterol has an H in its name because it’s HEALTHY & HAPPY to be helping both you and your heart. The more HDL you have the cleaner your blood vessels are. Unfortunately the some overweight individuals have something called the metabolic syndrome or syndrome x. People with syndrome X have large waists, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides and low HDL. That’s right. Syndrome X took the Happy right out of the cholesterol. Low HDL is associated with a higher risk of heart disease.