School Cholesterol Screening      |School Participation/Dates for 2009-2010 School Year

For over 36 years, Beaver County Cancer & Heart Association has been screening the cholesterol levels of 7th grade students.  For the 2007-2008 School Year, Beaver County Cancer & Heart Association has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield to expand the "Healthy Hearts" School Cholesterol Program.  The program has expanded to include a free tshirt to all participants, glucose screenings, distribution of nutritional information and a pedometer for each student identified as having high cholesterol.  Prior to the screenings, a presentation is made to the students in which they learn what cholesterol is, where it comes from, the importance of knowing your cholesterol numbers and what those numbers mean.  Also included in this presentation is a Fast Food game in which the students are able to see how much fat is in the some of their fast foods.

Alarming Highlights of the 2006-2007 School Cholesterol Program
407 students were tested.
35% were identified as having high cholesterol.
26% were identified as being overweight according to the BMI chart.
41% were above the 85% percentile.
12% were identified as having high cholesterol and being overweight.
2% were identified as having a high fasting blood glucose level.