Question

I'm 31 years old and work for a City bank, a job that demands frequent socialising, usually involving food and drink. I also like cooking at home for friends and I smoke to relax. My health has never worried me, but it has increasingly troubled my fiancee, and she recently insisted I buy a cholesterol-testing kit from the chemist. Shockingly, it indicated 'above normal'. I used to be fit as a teenager and I'm just over average height (6ft 1in), but I am now 16st and the not-so-proud owner of a rather large beer belly. My fiancee says I am in danger of an early heart attack. Do you think this is true? How can I lower my cholesterol, and adapt my lifestyle to a healthier way of living?

· If you have a health question for our experts, email health@observer.co.uk

The cardiac nurse
June Davison

Although you're young, you could soon be at high risk of heart problems. They are commonly caused by a combination of negative factors including high cholesterol, smoking and being overweight, all of which apply to you. You should see your GP for a formal check-up, known as a cardiovascular risk assessment, straightaway. Meanwhile, stop smoking. It stimulates the formation of fatty plaque in your arteries, a process called atherosclerosis, or 'furring' that may eventually cause a blockage. Smokers are twice as likely to have a heart attack - they need only smoke a few cigarettes a day to double that risk. You are much more likely to quit successfully with help, so find an NHS group near you at www.bhf.org.uk/smoking. Exercise also helps reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. This doesn't mean hours in the gym, just 30 minutes a day of something that gets your heart beating - even a brisk walk to the train station will make a difference.

· June Davison is a nurse at the British Heart Foundation

The dietician
Rachel Cooke

You can lower your cholesterol by cutting down on your intake of saturated fat, found in foods like butter and cream. Instead, eat produce containing healthier, monounsaturated fats like olive, groundnut or rapeseed oils. Don't mistakenly strip your diet of eggs, shellfish and red meat - these foods are only likely to raise cholesterol if you fry them in butter or consume them to excess. You need to eat them in moderation as they contain valuable nutrients like protein and B vitamins that give you energy. When you eat out, avoid obvious unhealthy foods like chips or pastry apart from once a week, when you can have whatever you want. Small amounts of alcohol may actually be beneficial, as red wine contains chemicals called flavonoids that help strengthen your arteries - just stay within the recommended limits (see www.bda.uk.com) and have one or two alcohol-free days per week. A dietician can tailor advice. Ask your GP for a referral.

· Rachel Cooke is a public health dietician

The GP
Dr Ian Banks

Your fiancee is right to worry, especially as you carry weight around your middle. Scientists have now proved that abdominal fat is the most dangerous kind, as it is 'metabolically active'. This means that, unlike hip and thigh fat, stomach fat releases a mixture of hormones, chemicals and fatty acids that increases your resistance to insulin. This can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure and eventually - when these two combine with high cholesterol - a condition called 'metabolic syndrome' which doubles your risk of a heart attack. Luckily, metabolically active fat is easier to lose as it responds much quicker to even small amounts of regular exercise, according to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. As soon as you start to burn off more calories than you're consuming, you will see a reduction in your waist size (visit www.malehealth.co.uk for tips). Keep measuring - a waist of less than 37 inches is considered healthy for men.

· Ian Banks is a GP and president of the Men's Health Forum