What Causes High Triglycerides? Reasons Your Numbers Rise

If you’ve gotten the news that you have “high triglycerides” on your lab results, it can feel confusing, especially if you didn’t know to pay attention to that number in the first place. 

Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood that your body uses to store extra energy from the food you eat. When they’re elevated, it doesn’t always mean something is seriously wrong but it does mean there’s a reason worth identifying.

The good news is that many of the most common causes of high triglycerides are fixable, especially once you know what’s driving your number. Below are the most common reasons triglycerides run high, plus when it’s important to talk to a doctor.

Common Causes of High Triglycerides (A Quick List)

High triglycerides usually come from one (or more) of these categories:

• Diet patterns high in added sugar and refined carbs
• Alcohol
• Weight gain, especially around the abdomen
• Insulin resistance, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes
• Not fasting before the blood test (or having a heavy meal/alcohol recently)
• Certain medications
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• Certain kidney or liver conditions
• Pregnancy or hormonal changes
• Genetics (familial tendency toward higher triglycerides)

Let’s break down the most common ones and what you can do about them.

Sugar, Carbs & Alcohol

One of the largest reasons for high triglycerides is a diet that has a lot of added sugars and refined carbohydrates. When your body gets more quick-burning fuel than it can use right away, it has to do something with it. Your liver can convert that excess energy into triglycerides, which then circulate in your bloodstream.

This doesn’t mean you can’t eat carbs at all, it just means that certain patterns make triglycerides more likely to climb. Big culprits include:

• Sugary drinks (soda, sweetened coffee drinks, juice)
• Sweets/desserts
• Highly refined carbs (white bread, white rice, pastries)

If your triglycerides are high, this is one of the first areas doctors look at, because it’s both common and often reversible.

Alcohol can raise triglycerides too - more than many people realize, and sometimes even with “moderate” intake, depending on the person. If your triglycerides are elevated, alcohol is a very common factor to review with your provider, especially if levels have been rising over time.

Weight Gain & Metabolic

Triglycerides can also often rise when your body is storing more energy than it’s using. That’s why higher triglycerides commonly show up alongside:

• Weight gain
• Low activity levels
• Increased abdominal/waist fat

This is also why triglycerides are frequently discussed as part of a larger metabolic picture and not just a standalone number. If you’re also looking at your cholesterol results and feeling confused, our guide on HDL vs LDL breaks down what “good” and “bad” cholesterol mean in simple terms.

In many cases, that bigger metabolic picture comes down to how your body handles blood sugar, and insulin resistance is one of the most common drivers.

When your body becomes less sensitive to insulin (called insulin resistance), it changes how your body processes sugars and fats. A very common pattern is:

• High triglycerides
• Low HDL (“good” cholesterol)
• Higher blood sugar or A1C (prediabetes/diabetes)

So if your triglycerides are high, your doctor may also want to look at blood sugar markers to see whether insulin resistance could be contributing.

Other Medical Causes for High Triglycerides

Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid that can affect how your body handles fats in the bloodstream, and that can contribute to higher triglycerides (and sometimes other cholesterol changes too). If triglycerides are high, especially if they’re high on repeat tests, then your doctor may check thyroid labs to rule this out.

Certain kidney and liver issues can affect how your body stores and clears fats too. When your triglycerides are high without any other obvious lifestyle reason, it is one of the medical categories doctors consider.

And lastly, triglycerides can also rise during pregnancy (especially later pregnancy) and can be influenced by hormonal shifts. If this is relevant, it’s something to discuss with your OB-GYN and/or primary care provider.

Medications That Can Raise Triglycerides

Some medications can contribute to higher triglycerides in certain people, such as:

• Estrogen-containing medications (including some birth control)
• Steroids (like prednisone)
• Some blood pressure medications (certain beta blockers or diuretics)
• Some mental health medications
• Some acne or immune-related medications

If you have been prescribed a medication you think could be affecting your numbers, you shouldn’t stop it on your own. The safest step is to talk to your doctor, often there are alternatives or adjustments that can be made when appropriate.

Test-Related Reasons Your Triglycerides Might Look High

Sometimes a triglyceride result looks high because of timing and not because your baseline is always high.

Triglycerides naturally rise after eating, especially after a heavy meal. That’s one reason many providers still prefer fasting triglycerides (often 8–12 hours without food) when evaluating a concerning result. If your test was non-fasting, your doctor may repeat it fasting to confirm what’s going on.

On top of that, alcohol intake, being sick, certain temporary medications and even major routine changes can cause short-term spikes. If a number seems out of character, repeating labs is often part of the next step.

Genetic Causes of High Triglycerides

Some people inherit an elevated triglycerides trend from genetics. You might suspect a genetic component if:

• High triglycerides show up at a younger age
• Multiple family members have similar lab patterns
• Levels are very high even with generally healthy habits

This does not mean that nothing can be done, but it can explain why triglycerides are elevated even when someone is doing “most things right.”

When to Talk to a Doctor About High Triglycerides

If your triglycerides are elevated, a doctor can help you figure out what’s driving the number and what your next best steps should be based on your overall risk.

You should consider scheduling a visit if:

• Your triglycerides are high on more than one test
• Your levels are rising compared to prior labs
• You also have risk factors like high blood pressure, prediabetes/diabetes, or a family history of heart disease
• Your triglycerides are very high (especially if they’ve approached the “dangerous” range)

If you’re unsure what triglyceride levels are considered normal, high, or dangerous, you can read our full guide: Are Your Triglycerides in the Normal Range? What’s Healthy, What’s High & What’s Dangerous.

Triglyceride & Heart Care in Queens and Brooklyn

At Advanced Medical Care, our cardiologists and internal medicine specialists help patients throughout Queens and Brooklyn make sense of lipid panel results including: triglycerides, cholesterol numbers, and blood pressure. We then build a realistic plan based on the full picture of your medical history, risk factors, lifestyle, and labs, not just one number.

Depending on your needs, we may recommend:

• Lipid and metabolic evaluations
• Heart testing such as EKGs and echocardiograms
• Screening for conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or thyroid issues
• Ongoing monitoring and guidance to keep you on track

If you’re concerned about a recent triglyceride result, call us at 347-571-9389 (Queens) or 929-552-2973 (Brooklyn) to schedule an appointment, or book online to get started. 

Frequently Asked Questions About High Triglycerides

What is the most common cause of high triglycerides?

For many people, the most common contributors are diet patterns high in added sugar/refined carbs, alcohol intake, and weight gain, often tied to insulin resistance.

Why are my triglycerides high if my cholesterol is normal?

Triglycerides and cholesterol are different measurements. It’s possible for triglycerides to be elevated even when LDL (“bad” cholesterol) isn’t, especially if insulin resistance, alcohol, or diet patterns are playing a role.

Can triglycerides be high from eating the day before?

Yes. Triglycerides rise after eating and can spike after heavy meals or alcohol. If your test wasn’t fasting or your routine was unusual that week, your doctor may repeat a fasting test.

Does alcohol raise triglycerides quickly?

It can. Some people are more sensitive to alcohol’s effects on triglycerides, and levels can rise noticeably depending on frequency and amount.

Can stress cause high triglycerides?

Stress usually affects triglycerides indirectly through sleep disruption, stress eating, alcohol use, reduced activity, and blood sugar changes. If stress has been high lately, it’s worth mentioning alongside your lab results.