Does Fat Make You Fat? The Truth About Fat In Your Diet

Does fat make you fat? Here’s the answer and truth about fat (plus why you don’t have to be so afraid of it.)

Let’s chat about the question: does far make you fat?

There is an age-old saying that the fat you eat is the fat you wear.

With the rise of new ketogenic diets where fat is the main nutrient, many people are starting to question if fat really is the answer.

Is fat really something to be fearful of?

If consuming fat something we need to work so hard to avoid?

When it comes to weight loss or fat loss, the most simple and effective way to ensure success is to moderate your caloric spread and maintain a consistent deficit.

With that said, that answer is not really why we’re here – we want to know if consuming more fat will make you fat.

Let’s break this down and look at the details.

DOES FAT MAKE YOU FAT?

Fat Has More Calories Than Any Other Nutrient

This is one of the main concerns that may keep you away from eating fat.

When we look at the actual caloric energy received from carbs and protein (both 4 kcal per gram) we see that fat has more than double the calories (9 kcal per gram) per serving.

With this in mind, it can be very easy to overeat on a diet that contains a lot of fat.

On the other hand, calories are not necessarily a clear indicator of weight gain – it’s just more complex than that.

Just because fat has more calories does not mean that by eating it you will put on weight.

DOES FAT MAKE YOU FAT?

Fat Is Very Nutritious

Fat is also very healthy for you – when you consume the right type.

Polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats, omega fatty acids, unsaturated fats – these are all really good sources of fat that you can find in many fat-rich foods like nuts, fish, seeds and beans.

Consuming this type of food should not cause excessive weight gain.

So, Where’s The Downside?

Yes, a diet that is high in fat can work, but it is really dependent on the actual person.

There’s a rule called the “equator rule” which roughly states that the closer your blood relatives, historically, were to the equator the higher your nutrient demand for carbohydrates would be.

Those from Caribbean countries, Mediterranean backgrounds, and anything close to the equator will have a very good ability to metabolize (in general) carbohydrates.

If this population of people were to go on a high-fat diet, they may not experience the same benefits that other blood relatives, like those of Scandinavian heritage, would.

Whenever you look at what food you should be eating, it’s always good to make an objective assessment of where you came from.

Good food is good food, and this won’t really change, but eating a diet that is as close as possible to what your blood relatives would have eaten is going to allow your body to function at the most effective rate possible.

Does Fat Really Make You Fat?

The consensus, then, is yes and no.

The research will show that pretty much any nutrient consumed in excess can lead to weight gain.

The reality is we just don’t have enough human trials to definitively say that it will.

DOES FAT MAKE YOU FAT?

Your best bet is to always strive for moderation.

In most cases, the most effective macronutrient split is 50% carbs, 30% protein, and 20% fat.

Try sticking to those ratios for a while and then adjust as needed for your own body.

You’ll be able to tell if eating a higher percentage of fat works for you or if it makes you gain unwanted pounds.

DOES FAT MAKE YOU FAT?

EXAMPLES OF HEALTHY FATS

• Avocado
• Cheese
• Whole Eggs
• Fatty Fish
• Nuts
• Chia Seeds
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Dark Chocolate
• Flaxseeds
• Olives
• Nut and seed butter
• Tofu
• Full fat natural yoghurt

Monounsaturated fatty acids, saturated fats and Omega-3s are healthy fats that:

• Benefit the heart
• Lower the risk of heart disease and stroke
• Lower LDL cholesterol
• Improve insulin levels
• Improve blood glucose levels

DOES FAT MAKE YOU FAT?

Fats you want to avoid like the plague:

• Polyunsaturated fats
• Processed vegetable oils high in Omega-6 fatty acids
• Trans fats

Whenever you see the words FAT-FREE or LOW-FAT think of the words CHEMICAL SHIT STORM.

No trans fat are recommended for a healthy diet, so there really aren’t any trans fats that we need. Sue Moore

Trans fat really are a metabolic poison. Walter Willett

To eat is a necessity but to eat intelligently is an art. Francois de La Rochefoucauld

It is not fat that makes you fat. It’s sugar. D. Christine Northrup

By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity. David H. Murdoch

Nutrition is not low fat. It’s not low calories. It’s not being hungry and feeling deprived. It’s nourishing your body with real whole foods, so that you are consistently satisfied and energized to live life to the fullest. After all, isn’t that what this life is all about?

So don’t be scared of the good fats!

Just make sure to consume the bad fats rarely or in small quantities.

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Frances Vidakovic

I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.