Hi, thank you for your question. Obesity puts you at risk of having high cholesterol but it does not necessarily mean that you have high cholesterol.

To lose weight, it is important to eat a healthy diet. First of all, reduce your consumption of high-calorie foods such as refined carbohydrates (soft drinks, sweets, cakes, biscuits), fats (butter, deep fried food, fatty red meats) and alcohol. Avoid ‘white food’ that contain plenty of refined sugar and flour, and opt for complex carbohydrates like wholegrains and vegetables. Eat high-fibre food to fight hunger, have sensible goals and do not skip meals to achieve your ideal weight.

Exercise also plays a role in fighting obesity. You should do moderate-intensity exercise exercise at least 30 minutes 5 times a week. For example, brisk walking, swimming, playing a favourite sport and riding a bicycle. Moderate-intensity exercise can help increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol. You can also try to incorporate physical activities into your daily activities, like taking the stairs instead of the lift.

If you still have trouble reducing your weight despite all these efforts, you should talk to your doctor and ask for their advice. It is best if you can get your cholesterol levels checked, so that your doctor can help you manage the issue earlier and prevent further complications.

If your result shows that you have high cholesterol, your doctor will recommend you to make some lifestyle changes such as those mentioned above. However, if your cholesterol levels remain high, they might recommend medication.

There are many medications to manage high cholesterol, such as statins, fibrates and omega-3 fatty acid supplements. The choice of medication will very much depend on your age, overall health and possible side effects of the medication.

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