Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-12-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the adult population had raised cholesterol in each of the last five years; and what steps his Department is taking to (a) raise awareness of cholesterol and (b) reduce the number of people with high cholesterol.

Jane Ellison

National estimates of cholesterol in adults is measured yearly by the Health Survey for England (HSE). Data on raised cholesterol from the HSE were last published by Health and Social Care Information Centre in 2012, using the latest data from 2011. The data showed 52% of men and 53% of women aged 16+ had raised cholesterol.

Information on cholesterol and its impact on health can be accessed on the NHS Choices website. Information on cholesterol as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease was also shared directly with 7.4 million people between April 2013 and September 2015 as part of the NHS Health Check invitation. Over the same period, over 3.5 million people between 40 and 74 years also benefited from a cholesterol check as part of the NHS Health Check.

The Government advocates a healthy balanced diet based on the eatwell plate and everyday activity to improve health. People should consume no more than 11% of their food energy as saturated fat. Reducing saturated fat consumption reduces blood cholesterol levels. Advice about cutting saturated fat intake and becoming more physically active can be found on the NHS Choices and Change4Life websites.