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Normal Triglycerides & Weight Gain

Weight gain contributes to a variety of health conditions, not the least of which is an accumulation of triglycerides in the bloodstream. Because weight gain can adversely affect normal triglyceride levels, it is important to understand contributing factors that will increase your risk of developing unhealthy levels of these blood lipids.

  1. Identification

    • Triglycerides are essentially fat lipids that flow through the blood and can contribute to conditions such as high cholesterol and heart disease. Normal levels, according to the Mayo Clinic, are less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), borderline is 150 to 199 mg/dl, high is 200 to 499 mg/dl and very high is 500mg/dl or more. Triglycerides are used for energy and are released from fat cells where they are stored when needed, but if you indulge in excess calories, there will be excessive triglyceride accumulation in the blood known as hypertriglycerdemia.

    Effects

    • Weight gain can contribute to increased triglycerides in the bloodstream. Eating foods that are high in saturated fats and cholesterol raises triglyceride levels out of the normal range and may cause cholesterol to increase as well. Decreased physical activity increases triglyceride stores, because they are not burned for energy and accumulate in the bloodstream excessively.

    Prevention

    • Keep triglyceride levels at or below normal by eating foods that are low in saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends keeping saturated fats at 7 percent or less of your total dietary intake. Avoid processed, sugary or fatty fare and instead dine on fresh vegetables, fruits and whole wheat products. In addition, include physical activity in your daily routine to burn off excess calories that increase triglyceride stores.

    Benefits

    • Maintaining a normal weight will help to stabilize triglyceride levels and decrease your chances of developing high cholesterol that may lead to conditions such as obesity, heart disease or diabetes. Making healthy lifestyle changes such as decreasing fat intake and increasing physical activity will help ensure you maintain a healthy weight and avoid triglyceride accumulation that may lead to weight gain.

    Expert Insight

    • According to The American Association of Physicians, decreasing carbohydrate intake may help reduce triglyceride levels and normalize weight. They also recommend eating fish such as salmon, trout and mackerel as much as three times weekly to increase omega-3 fatty acids that contribute to overall heart health. In addition, although normal triglyceride levels are less than 150 mg/dl, they really should not go above 100 mg/dl for optimal weight and health.

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