Fat substitutes linked to weight gain

Rats on high-fat diet gained more weight after eating low-calorie potato chips made with fat substitutes

WASHINGTON — 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 Pringles potato chips that are high in fat and calories. The remaining rats in each group were fed high-calorie Pringles chips on some days and low-calorie Pringles Light chips on other days. The Pringles Light chips are made with olestra, a synthetic fat substitute that has zero calories and passes through the body undigested.

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http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-06/apa-fsl062011.php

Forget all of these substitutes they are not health. Eat a diet with moderation in all areas of good health foods.

Gotta agree, the lesser it is being processed, the better.

Yes, I don't like the fake stuff myself, and the artificial sweeteners dont' agree with me, so it was interesting to learn that they also have the same sort of affect. Apparently, if you use them your body actually craves sugar more.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=artificial-sweeteners-confound-the-brain

rats that were fed artificially sweetened yogurt in addition to their regular feed ended up eating more and gaining more weight than rats that ate yogurt with real sugar. The study’s authors suggest that exposure to an artificial sweetener may undermine the brain’s ability to track calories and to determine when to stop eating.