Unfortunately there's a lot of confusion surrounding this substance. Here's how to keep them all straight. Serum cholesterol is what's in your bloodstream and what your doctor measures with a cholesterol test. A reading under 200 is desirable. The more overweight you are the more cholesterol your body produces.
Body weight is the single most important determinant of serum cholesterol.
Every 22-pound rise in body weight elevated cholesterol levels 2 points. The concluding factor in this debate has been the famous Framingham Heart Study, which proved a definitive link between increased body weight and elevation of cholesterol. So if your weight is up, this is one more reason to bring it down. The important thing is to bring down body weight in a healthy manner. Strive for a diet that's composed of two thirds fruit, vegetables, cereals, and whole grains.