After reading the articles on this and seeing some doctors being interviewed on TV, I am pretty sure that the intent is to use the statins only AFTER exercise and diet changes don't work in kids. Both of my kids were tested for cholesterol when they were toddlers and kids. They were fine, but I wish my husband had been tested. He is like Knott... skinny people with horrible levels of cholesterol and many heart attacks and strokes. On both sides of his family! If he had been aware of his high cholesterol from an early age, he might have avoided the 2 80% blockages and resulting stents he had put in 3 years ago.
I agree that changing kid's lifestyle is the most important thing, but I think some of those kids might need a little more than that so they don't end up with coronary disease at age 25.