Lose weight
Get regular exercise
Eat less sugar and sugar-containing foods
Eat smaller meals and snacks throughout the day,
rather than consuming two or three large meals
Drink less alcohol (even small amounts of alcohol
has been shown to elevate triglycerides)
Limit fat in the diet to less than 35% of daily calories
Avoid deep-fried foods
Substitute monounsaturated and polyunsaturated
fats, such as those found in canola or olive oils, for
saturated fats
Use a prescription medicine, as directed by the health
care provider, to decrease the production of trigly-
cerides by the liver
Instead of eating meats high in saturated fats, con-
sume fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as sal-
mon, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, or
mackerel (about 10 to 15 grams of fish oil a day is
recommended - 15 grams of fish oil can be obtained
from an 8-ounce serving of fish
Other good food choices include fruits (but not
fruit juices, which are high in sugar), vegetables, whole
grain breads and cereals, lean protein sources, such as
lean meats, poultry without skin, eggs, egg substitute
or egg white, cooked dried beans, lentils, peas, nuts,
and low-fatsoyproducts, fat-free or 1% milk prod-
ucts, nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and peanuts),
avocados, and sugar-free products.
One approach to successfully changing the diet to
reduce blood triglyceride levels is to make changes in
stages. For example, individuals could cut fat intake to
30% for one month (current American levels are
approximately 40%) and then return to their health
care provider to see if there has been an improvement
in their triglyceride levels. If the level of decreases was
not satisfactory, the individuals could further restrict
their fat intake to 25% and again be evaluated after
one month. If no improvement is noted, the fat intake
should be lowered to 20% for two months. At this
level of fat intake, it is likely that most calories are
being obtained from complex carbohydrates, and a
reduction in triglyceride levels should be seen.
ComplicationsOther risk factors forcoronary heart diseasecan
increase the hazards from high levels of triglycerides.
Therefore a person with high levels should in addition
to making dietary changes should also control high
blood pressure and avoid cigarette smoking. Dietary
management is important even when drugs are used to
control triglyceride levels.Parental concerns
If a child is suspected to have familial hypertrigly-
ceridemia, the child should be tested for elevated levels
of triglycerides. If the disorder is present, appropriate
steps should be taken to help the child lower his or her
triglyceride levels.Resources
BOOKS
Sprecher, Dennis.What You Should Know about Triglycer-
ides: The Missing Link in Heart Disease.New York,
NY: Harper Torch Publishers, 2000.
Welson, Linda T. (Ed.)Triglycerides and Cholesterol
ResearchHauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers,
Inc., 2006
ORGANIZATIONS
American Heart Association National Center, 7272 Green-
ville Avenue, Dallas, TX 7523. Telephone: 800-242-- Website: [www.americanheart.org]
Judith L. SimsTrim Kids
Definition
Trim Kids, also known as Committed to Kids
(CTK), is a twelve-week behavioral weight manage-
ment program for adolescents. The program integra-
tes behavior modification, nutrition education, and
exercise to promote lifestyle changes that carry into
adulthood. Parental involvement is crucial as parents
must provide limitations and support to help their
child achieve weekly goals.Origins
A team of health professionals led by Dr. Melinda
Sothern researchedchildhood obesityat the Commit-
ted to Kids Pediatric Weight-Management Program at
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.
The team consisted of Dr. Sothern, an exercise psy-
chologist, Dr. T. Kristian von Almen, a research psy-
chologist, and Heidi Schumacher, a registered
dietician. After fifteen years of research and imple-
mentation of the program, the team publishedTrim
Kids.Trim Kidsprovides the materials necessary for
parents to use the program at home. CTK follows the
same twelve-week schedule, but is led by certified,Trim Kids