Do you load your grocery cart with foods labeled "fat-free" or "reduced-fat"? A recent statement from the American Heart Association points to overconsumption of fat-free foods as a cause of excess weight in Americans.

According to the statement published in the journal Circulation, Americans ate fewer calories from fat during the 1990s than they did during the 1950s. But despite the presence of low-fat and fat-free foods lining the grocery store shelves, the rates of obesity have doubled in the last 20 years. In addition, excess weight has contributed to increased rates of type 2 diabetes in adults, teens and kids.

The AHA warns that many people may think they can eat unlimited amount of foods that contain little or no fat, but may not pay attention to the overall number of calories, which leads to weight gain. The AHA also points out that although fat substitutes may offer some flexibility in helping people stick to a low-fat diet, substitutes such as olestra may have adverse health effects and interact negatively with medications.

Sticking to a diet that includes plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains will help you reduce dietary fat naturally. Choose low-fat or no-fat dairy products for their calcium content, but beware of fat-free or reduced-fat cookies, cakes and crackers, which add calories but have little nutritional value.

Related information: About fat | Food pyramid | Food label

Sources:  Wylie-Rosett J. Fat substitutes and health: an advisory from the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association. Circulation 2002 Jun 11;105(23):2800-4.