Size does matter – as does diet – but your genes are the main driver of your cholesterol levels Size does matter – as does diet – but your genes are the main driver of your cholesterol levels C holesterol, a fatty substance mostly made by the liver and used by the body to build cells and produce hormones, has become a heart-health bogeyman. There are several types, but high levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Often labelled “bad”