Health tools
How the blood lipid risk is calculated
The assessment combines factors for age, body shape, family history, diet, diabetes, smoking and physical activity.
This total score is a HealthSphere screening system that weights factors based on international health guidelines. It is not a WHO-endorsed score and cannot be used to diagnose disease.
Risk factor scoring table
| Factor | Criteria used | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 35–44 / 45–59 / 60 years or over | 1 / 2 / 3 |
| BMI | 23–24.9 / 25–29.9 / 30 or over | 1 / 2 / 3 |
| Waist | Men ≥90 cm (35.4 in), women ≥80 cm (31.5 in); a further 10 cm over scores 3 | 2 / 3 |
| Family history | Someone in the family has high blood lipids | 2 |
| Diet | Fried/fatty food often; sweets regularly | 2 / 1 |
| Blood sugar | Has been told it is high, or has diabetes | 2 |
| Smoking / physical activity | Smokes / less than 150 minutes per week | 2 / 2 |
For each factor, only the single highest matching criterion is counted; all the points are then added up.
What the total score means
0–4 points — Low risk
5–9 points — Moderate risk
10 points or more — High risk
What the result cannot tell you
Cholesterol and triglyceride levels can only be known from a blood test. This questionnaire has no LDL, HDL or triglyceride values, so it can only be used to assess risk factors.