Triglycerides
Are triglycerides typically high in overweight people?
I've already lost thirty pounds and have a little more to go. But my doctor says my triglycerides are too high. Just wondering if they will only be normal if I'm at my "ideal" weight.
Public Comments
- Most people that are overweight do hve high triglycerides. As you continue on your diet, I assume you are eating healthier. With a healthy diet then your triglycerides should come down. If you have a genetic factor that is contributing to the high levels then you may not be able to do anything but take medication. Genetics play a major factor.
- Well, there's an interesting thing about these little guys... First, the amount really depends on genetics and your diet. There are skinny-fat people who eat like crap but still aren't obese. These people have high triglyceride levels. There are others who are fat due to eating too much and being inactive, but the food they eat isn't bad. My mother is a great example. She is over 300 pounds and has optimal cholesterol and blood pressure, but women less than half her weight are on medication for both! Second, the American Heart Association (AHA) has found that cholesterol poses a threat to your life when it imbeds itself in scars in your arteries. But the scars only get there through an improper diet. When you eat protein, a compound called Homocystine is produced. Folic acid takes care of it...but not everyone has a balanced diet like that. Without enough folic acid to destory the homocystine, it goes into your heart and scars your arteries. The AHA is currently trying to figure out how much folic acid you should supplement, but because it is a B vitamin, you won't overdose on it if you take a lot. If you are worried about your triglyceride level, make sure that your weight loss (congrats on that, by the way) is done in a healthy way, with healthy food, exercise, and a multi-vitamin (most of us don't get enough in the foods we eat, so supplementing with a multi is a good idea), and make sure to take a folic acid supplement.
