Foods that Contribute to Obesity

Part 1 - High Fat Foods 

High fat food and Obesity

Those foods with the greatest caloric density would be the most likely to contribute to obesity as more than moderate consumption of these foods will tend to produce an imbalance in the energy intake compared to the energy expenditure.  Any excess of energy above that required will be stored as fat and thus the long term over consumption of energy leads to obesity. 

The foods highest in fat and/or sugar will also promote obesity, as these are generally the foods with the greatest energy density. There is also some indication that adults become accustomed to the consumption of a particular amount of food in regard to weight or bulk. Thus these foods will be more likely to be consumed in amounts that exceed energy requirements if they form a significant part of the dietary intake.

Foods that contain large quantities of fat can also contribute to obesity through factors other than their relative high energy density. 

A Calorie is not a Calorie

Dietary fat has been demonstrated to be converted into body fat with greater efficiency than dietary carbohydrate, and a high fat diet has been shown to lead to a greater increase of weight in comparison with a high carbohydrate, low fat diet of equal caloric value.

There is also a positive correlation between a high fat intake and increased body weight in epidemiological analysis however it is not possible to rule out the involvement of other factors such as physical activity when reviewing these results.

It has also been found that overweight individuals consume a higher level of fat as a percentage of total energy in comparison to normal body weight individuals but once again this relationship is inconclusive as a preference for foods high in fat may possibly occur as a consequence rather than a cause of obesity .

Fat has also been demonstrated to produce a lesser effect on satiety than carbohydrate or protein which may be another mechanism leading to overconsumption of foods containing a high proportion of fat.

Examples of foods high in fat include fried foods, snack foods such as potato chips, cream, butter, hard cheese, meat and chicken without fat or skin removed, nuts and seeds, oils and salad dressings.  Many processed foods high in fat also contain high sugar levels such as biscuits, cakes, chocolate, desserts etc.

High Fat and High Glycemic Index Foods

Diets that contain a combination of high glycemic index and high fat foods are likely to be synergistic in promoting an increase in body fat levels in all individuals but especially in those with poor glycemic control and hyperinsulinemia.

The constantly elevated insulin levels inhibit fat oxidation and encourage the storage of fat in adipose tissue, such that fats present in the diet will be unable to be used by the body for the production of energy and will be effectively converted into fat stores.

See Also:

Why Low Glycemic Foods?

Glycemic Index - Obesity and Diabetes

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