Good news and bad on cholesterol levels: study

"Levels of 'bad' LDL cholesterol among adult Americans have fallen somewhat since 1980. However, harmful triglyceride levels have nearly quintupled over the same time period, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's annual meeting. Research presenter Dr. Jerome D. Cohen of St. Louis University, Missouri, told Reuters Health that the falling LDL cholesterol levels may reflect Americans' greater awareness of the dangers of a high-fat diet, but the 'skyrocketing triglyceride levels' reflect the increasing prevalence of obesity, which Cohen described as a 'a true epidemic.' The findings are based on a look at data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey II (NHANES II) conducted between 1976 and 1980, NHANES III, covering the years 1988 to 1994, and NHANES 1999 to 2006" - Reuters Health