By Life Quotes, Inc. Staff

Young people may be setting themselves up for long-term medical problems and the higher health and life insurance premiums that can come with them.

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than half of young adults get cholesterol screenings. However, up to 26 percent of that population is thought to have elevated bad cholesterol levels.

Researchers found that 55 percent of men aged 20 to 35 had at least one risk factor for heart disease, including high blood pressure, smoking and obesity. The same was the case for women aged 20 to 45. Also, 7 percent of these young adults had elevated cholesterol even though they had no other risk factors, while 26 percent of those with two or more risk factors had elevated levels.

Public health officials have been taking a number of steps to try to reduce childhood obesity levels, potentially sparing millions of people from chronic health conditions and more financial burdens.

By avoiding smoking and following a healthy diet and exercise routine, people can enjoy a longer life while paying less for life insurance premiums.

This article was originally published by Life Quotes, Inc.