Trans fat makes belly fat

[cmotherofpirl]

Trans Fat Leads To Weight Gain Even On Same Total Calories, Animal Study Shows

The "apple" body shape that increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease may be accelerated by eating trans fat such as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, according to new animal research at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

"Diets rich in trans fat cause a redistribution of fat tissue into the abdomen and lead to a higher body weight even when the total dietary calories are controlled," said Lawrence L. Rudel, Ph.D., professor of pathology and biochemistry and head of the Lipid Sciences Research Program.

"What it says is that trans fat is worse than anticipated," Rudel said. "I was surprised."

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), consumption of saturated fat, trans fat, and dietary cholesterol raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, levels, which increases the risk of coronary artery disease.

Kylie Kavanagh, D.V.M., presented the findings today at the 66th annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in Washington, D.C. She said that over six years, male monkeys fed a western-style diet that contains trans fat had a 7.2 percent increase in body weight, compared to a 1.8 percent increase in monkeys that ate monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil.

All that extra weight went to the abdomen, and some other body fat was redistributed to the abdomen. Computed tomography (CT) scans showed that the monkeys on the diet containing trans fats had dramatically more abdominal fat than the monkeys on the monounsaturated fat. "We measured the volume of fat using CT," Kavanagh said. "They deposited 30 percent more fat in their abdomen."

The monkeys all were given the same amount of daily calories, with 35 percent of the calories coming from fat. The amount of calories they got should only have been enough to maintain their weight, not increase it, Rudel said. "We believed they couldn't get obese because we did not give them enough calories to get fat."

One group of monkeys got 8 percent of their calories from trans fat while the other group received those calories as monounsaturated fat. The researchers said that this amount of trans fat is comparable to people who eat a lot of fried food.

"We conclude that in equivalent diets, trans fatty acid consumption increases weight gain," said Kavanagh.

Over the entire course of the study, there was a small but significant difference in weight between the two groups. "In the world of diabetes, everybody knows that just 5 percent weight loss makes enormous difference," Kavanagh said. "This little difference was biologically quite significant."

Rudel said, "The study was specifically funded to look at the role of trans fatty acids in atherosclerosis."

He said that at the time he got a grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, there was not much evidence in the literature and no animal models that documented the hazards of trans fats, though there are data showing it was a risk factor for atherosclerosis.

Kavanagh said the six-year length of the study was equivalent to 20 years in people.

According to the FDA, trans fat is found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods, and other foods made with or fried in partially hydrogenated oils. Unlike other fats, the majority of trans fat is formed when food manufacturers turn liquid oils into solid fats like shortening and hard margarine by adding hydrogen.

Since Jan. 1, the FDA has required the amount of trans fat to be listed in the nutrition facts panel on all foods. But the restaurant industry is exempt.

Other researchers on the American Diabetes Society report include Janice D. Wagner, Ph.D., D.V.M., John Jeffrey Carr, M.D., Kate Jones, B.S., Janet Sawyer, M.S., and Kathryn Kelly., B.S., all from Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

[homeschoolmom]

but trans fat is yummy...

[sweetpea316]

Yep. I had this drilled into me in a Nutrition class I took.

Partially hydrogenated oils = poison.

They're mainly used to increase the shelf life of food.

Not only do they increase your bad cholesterol, they lower your good choleserol.

[philothea]

Trans fats are so bad in so many ways. The scariest one, for me, is how they inhibit your brain from being able to make new connections -- it's harder to remember things when you're eating that carp.

Oh, and for extra fun... takes about 7 years to get it out of your system!

Hydrogenation should not be allowed in food. Oh yeah, pressurize the oil and pump hydrogen through it. Sounds real natural.

Anyone want the full geek explanation of why trans fats are bad? (It's plenty comprehensible.)

[Sojourner]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1008986' date='Jun 20 2006, 09:25 AM']
but trans fat is yummy...
[/quote]
especially in the form of Oreos.

[homeschoolmom]

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Sojourner' post='1009010' date='Jun 20 2006, 10:14 AM']
especially in the form of Oreos.
[/quote]
Oreo cookies Size: 18 ozbag

Serving Size 34g

Servings per Container about 15

Amount Per Serving
Calories 160 Calories from Fat 60

% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 11 %
Saturated Fat 2g 10 %
[color="#FF0000"]Trans Fat 0g[/color]
Cholesterol 0mg 0 %
Sodium 190mg 8 %

Total Carbohydrate 25g 8 %
Dietary Fiber 1g 4 %
Sugars 14g
Protein 2g

Vitamin A 0 %
Calcium 0 %
Vitamin C 0 %
Iron 10 %

[homeschoolmom]

I love you...

[Sojourner]

Really? Oh happy day! I thought I read somewhere that they had transfats in them ...

[homeschoolmom]

Can you perform the same magic on McDonald's french fries?

[cmotherofpirl]

here is the line from the article that makes me mad:
[color="#3366FF"]Since Jan. 1, the FDA has required the amount of trans fat to be listed in the nutrition facts panel on all foods. But the restaurant industry is exempt.[/color]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1009042' date='Jun 20 2006, 10:54 AM']
Can you perform the same magic on McDonald's french fries?
[/quote]
nope [url="http://www.mcdonalds.com/app_controller.nutrition.index1.html#1"]http://www.mcdonalds.com/app_controller.nu...n.index1.html#1[/url]

[homeschoolmom]

Yeah, the mcnuggets and french fries are going to do me in....

[philothea]

[quote name='Sojourner' post='1009041' date='Jun 20 2006, 09:54 AM']
Really? Oh happy day! I thought I read somewhere that they had transfats in them ...
[/quote]
Oreos used to be loaded with trans fats until the labelling change, when they suddenly developed a new recipe.

Now they have just under .5 grams per serving, so it doesn't show up on the label.

Hydrogenated oil is still listed in the ingredients, but much lower down. Most cookies and crackers have also changed their recipes.

[cmotherofpirl]

If you ask a restaurant about a certain menu item, are they required to tell you whats in it - such as trans fat?

[morostheos]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1009059' date='Jun 20 2006, 11:15 AM']
If you ask a restaurant about a certain menu item, are they required to tell you whats in it - such as trans fat?
[/quote]

I don't think they're required, but more and more do because it will probably be required in the next few years.