Lipid Profile
A blood test measuring cholesterol and triglycerides — a key screening tool to assess heart disease risk during weight management.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
A lipid profile — also called a cholesterol panel — is a blood test that measures different types of fats in your bloodstream: total cholesterol, LDL ("bad") cholesterol, HDL ("good") cholesterol, and triglycerides. It is a key screening tool for assessing your heart disease risk. High LDL and triglyceride levels are common in people carrying excess weight, and these numbers typically improve with weight loss.
Medical
Clinical Definition
A fasting lipid profile (FLP) quantifies total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides from a venous blood sample after a 9–12 hour fast. Target values per Singapore MOH clinical practice guidelines: LDL-C < 3.4 mmol/L, HDL-C > 1.0 mmol/L (men) or > 1.3 mmol/L (women), triglycerides < 1.7 mmol/L, and total cholesterol < 5.2 mmol/L. Non-HDL-C (total minus HDL) is increasingly used as a superior atherogenic risk marker, with a target < 3.4 mmol/L. The test should be repeated within 3–6 months of initiating lifestyle or pharmacological intervention.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
A lipid profile is one of the most important screening tests in weight management. Dr Joseph Wang uses it at Accord Medical to establish baseline cardiovascular risk and monitor how your lipid numbers improve as you lose weight — giving you objective evidence that your health is getting better.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: August 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.