Which test is commonly used to screen for lipid disorders in overweight children?

• A. Lipid
• B. Fasting glucose
• C. ALT
• D. AST

Answer: (A)

A lipid panel is the test used to screen for lipid disorders in overweight children. This blood test measures the main fats in the blood—total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides—so it can identify dyslipidemia such as high LDL or high triglycerides or low HDL, which are more common in kids who are overweight and linked to higher future cardiovascular risk. Fasting glucose looks at blood sugar and diabetes risk, not lipid levels, while ALT and AST are liver enzymes used to assess liver health, not lipid abnormalities.