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Body measures and lab tests

LDL cholesterol

LDL cholesterol, often called bad cholesterol, is carried by particles that can build up as plaque in artery walls and raise the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Clinician review pending Updated Body measures and lab tests
DefinitionLDL cholesterol, often called bad cholesterol, is carried by particles that can build up as plaque in artery walls and raise the risk of heart attack and stroke.

What it means

LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein. When there is too much in the blood, it can collect in artery walls and narrow them, a process called atherosclerosis.

MedlinePlus lists these LDL categories for healthy adults:

  • Less than 100 mg/dL: optimal
  • 100 to 129: near optimal
  • 130 to 159: borderline high
  • 160 to 189: high
  • 190 and above: very high

People who already have heart disease or diabetes, or who are at high risk, usually have lower personal targets set by their clinician.

Diet, weight, activity, smoking, genes and some conditions all affect LDL. Weight loss tends to lower it modestly, while saturated fat and genetics can have a large effect. Many people also need cholesterol-lowering medicine, and weight loss does not replace it unless a clinician says so.

Why it matters

LDL is a core heart-risk number that clinicians track alongside weight during GLP-1 treatment.

Related terms

HDL cholesterolTriglyceridesCardiovascular disease

Sources

  1. MedlinePlus: LDL, the bad cholesterol
  2. MedlinePlus: Cholesterol levels

Clinician review pending. Drafted from primary sources and waiting for sign-off by a licensed clinician (MD, DO or PharmD) before launch. Every number is checked against its source. Drug facts are re-checked quarterly, prices monthly and whenever a label changes. How we review · Report an error