There are five main causes of high Triglycerides as detailed below:

High fat foods and weight gain

Triglyceride levels generally increase as your weight increases. Unused calories, especially from sugar, animal products and alcohol are major causes of increased triglyceride levels. As triglycerides are a scientific name for fat, a body that has a high amount of fat will have a high triglycerides level.

Age

Triglyceride levels increase with age. By age 60 the average person will have a triglyceride level that is twice what it was when they were 6. Women naturally have slightly higher levels than men. Pregnancy can also increase triglyceride levels.

Medications

Certain medication, including steroids, some diuretics and birth control

pills can increase triglyceride levels.

Illness

Poorly controlled diabetes, hypothyroidism and kidney disease can heighten

triglyceride levels.

Hereditary

Some people are genetically predisposed to high triglyceride levels. Hereditary hyperlipoproteinemias is a condition which interferes with the body's metabolism and elimination of lipids. Familial hyperchylomicronemia is a rare condition in which the body cannot remove chylomicrons from the bloodstream. This results in very high levels of triglycerides. Without treatment, levels are often considerably higher than 1,000 mg/dL. People who suffer from Familial hyperchylomicronemia must avoid eating any types of fat.