National Cholesterol Month 2026
October 1 - October 31
About National Cholesterol Month 2026
National Cholesterol Month takes place throughout October 2026. Led by HEART UK — The Cholesterol Charity, it is the UK’s dedicated campaign to raise awareness of cholesterol, its role in cardiovascular health, and the practical steps people can take to manage their levels.
What Happens During National Cholesterol Month?
Throughout October, HEART UK coordinates a nationwide programme of activity focused on cholesterol education and heart health. Healthcare professionals, employers, schools, and community organisations take part in events ranging from workplace cholesterol testing sessions to online webinars, fundraising challenges, and social media campaigns. The charity’s flagship initiative, the Great Cholesterol Challenge, invites people to commit to a heart-healthy habit for the month — whether that is walking more, cutting saturated fat, or cooking with cholesterol-lowering foods — while raising funds to support the charity’s work.
Key Facts About Cholesterol in the UK
Two statistics underline just how significant cholesterol is as a public health issue in the UK:
- Around six in ten adults in the UK have a raised total cholesterol level. Because high cholesterol has no symptoms, most of those people are unaware of the risk they carry.
- Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) — a genetic condition that causes very high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol from birth — affects approximately 1 in 250 people in the UK. Fewer than 10% of those with FH are thought to have been diagnosed, meaning hundreds of thousands remain at elevated cardiovascular risk without knowing it.
How to Get Involved
- Get tested: Book a cholesterol check with your GP, a local pharmacy, or through a workplace health scheme. Most NHS GP practices offer testing as part of the NHS Health Check for adults aged 40 to 74.
- Join the Great Cholesterol Challenge: Sign up on the HEART UK website, choose a heart-healthy pledge for October, and fundraise for cholesterol education and research.
- Eat for your heart: Adding more oats, barley, beans, nuts, and plant sterols to your diet can help. Swapping saturated fat for unsaturated fat — such as olive oil or rapeseed oil — can make a measurable difference to LDL levels.
- Move more: Regular aerobic activity raises HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Even a brisk 30-minute walk five days a week can contribute to better levels.
- Spread the word: Share accurate information with friends, family, and colleagues using the hashtag #NationalCholesterolMonth.
- Support HEART UK: Donate, volunteer, or encourage your workplace to sign up as a campaign partner.
What is National Cholesterol Month?
National Cholesterol Month is a public health awareness campaign launched and led by HEART UK — The Cholesterol Charity, the UK’s leading cholesterol charity. It was created to address a persistent gap: despite being a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke, high cholesterol is widely misunderstood and routinely undetected.
The campaign has grown year on year since its launch, engaging NHS services, employers, schools, and community groups across all four nations of the UK. By pairing public education with community fundraising and practical health challenges, National Cholesterol Month has become one of the UK’s most effective annual heart health campaigns.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance produced by the liver and obtained from food. The body needs it to function, but too much LDL cholesterol causes fatty deposits to build up in the arteries — a process known as atherosclerosis — which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. National Cholesterol Month works to make this information accessible and actionable for everyone, regardless of background or health literacy.
For full campaign resources, testing guidance, and ways to take part in 2026, visit HEART UK — The Cholesterol Charity. Further information on cholesterol and cardiovascular health is available from the NHS and the British Heart Foundation.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-11. Content refreshed: updated opening dates block, restructured sections to plain HTML, added FH 1-in-250 statistic and 6-in-10 UK adults statistic, expanded how-to-get-involved section with NHS Health Check detail, confirmed HEART UK as organiser with direct links.
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