ScienceDaily (June 20, 2011) — Synthetic fat substitutes used in low-calorie potato chips and other foods could backfire and contribute to weight gain and obesity, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association.
The study, by researchers at Purdue University, challenges the conventional wisdom that foods made with fat substitutes help with weight loss. "Our research showed that fat substitutes can interfere with the body's ability to regulate food intake, which can lead to inefficient use of calories and weight gain," said Susan E. Swithers, PhD, the lead researcher and a Purdue psychology professor. The study was published online in the APA journal Behavioral Neuroscience.
The study used laboratory rats that were fed either a high-fat or low-fat diet of chow. Half of the rats in each group also were fed potato chips that are high in fat and calories. The remaining rats in each group were fed high-calorie chips on some days and low-calorie chips on other days. The low-calorie chips are made with olestra, a synthetic fat substitute that has zero calories and passes through the body undigested.
For rats on the high-fat diet, the group that ate both types of potato chips consumed more food, gained more weight and developed more fatty tissue than the rats that ate only the high-calorie chips. The fat rats also didn't lose the extra weight even after the potato chips were removed from their diet. "Based on this data, a diet that is low in fat and calories might be a better strategy for weight loss than using fat substitutes," Swithers said.
My personal opinion is that if your goal is to lose weight don't eat potato chips! I never bought into any of those low fat snacks. I eat whatever I want but I do it in moderation. When I want to lose a few pounds I just limit or cut out junk food for a while. I feel like a lot of people eat low fat snacks and expect magical changes but it just isn't that easy.
So much issues regarding how to lose weight, why not just try "in moderation" for mostly everything. Some people like word such as; low fat, unsaturated fat. lite food but do they honestly comply with the way these foods should be eaten.
ReplyDeletePatricia R
As long as humans are eating, there will always be studies on weight loss. There will always be fad diets and new studies on synthetic fats and calories, etc. I am a firm supporter of moderation! Weight loss really depends on the individual.
ReplyDeleteI agree with eating in moderation also. Just because a package says low fat or 1/2 the calories of so and so, doesn't mean you can eat 3x as much of the stuff. A healthy diet with maybe a cheat day here and there and exercise and usually, staying away from potato chips is a good route to weight loss.
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