The goal of this research was to compare and contrast the elderly and adolescent populations’ knowledge about cholesterol and their lifestyle choices. Data for this study were gathered via a researcher-written survey that was given to elderly and adolescent sample populations in a rural area of western Pennsylvania. Each group consisted of 36 participants. The survey concerned demographics, lifestyle, and knowledge about cholesterol. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for demographics, level of knowledge, and lifestyle comparison.

A knowledge deficit was found in both sample populations. The elderly were able to answer only an average of 9% of the questions about cholesterol and the adolescents answered an average of 34% of these correctly.

The data also showed that the sample populations had several risk factors for developing high blood cholesterol. For example, 58% of the adolescent’s and 31% of the elderly used tobacco products. Thirty-five percent of the elderly population is overweight. The adolescent population was 8% overweight. The median time the elderly exercised four times per week was only 20 minutes whereas the adolescents exercised a median of 45 minutes six times per week. Of those that smoke and are sedentary only 6% were in the elderly population but 14% of the adolescent population fall into this category. More than 41% of the adolescents and only 14% of the elderly did not want additional education about cholesterol.

Teaching about cholesterol is recommended using an adaptation of the American Heart Association’s “Cardiovascular Risk Factor Education Program”. Smoking cessation also needs to be addressed.