Fat substitutes used in low-calorie foods can contribute to weight gain and obesity, according to a report by the American Psychological Association.
A study by researchers at Purdue University using rats showed fat substitutes can interfere with the body's ability to regulate food intake, prompting more eating than if high-calorie foods were ingested.
In the study, rats fed potato chips made with olestra, a synthetic fat substitute that has zero calories and passes through the body undigested, consumed more food, gained more weight and developed more fatty tissue than the rats fed only the high-calorie potato chips. On the other hand, rats that were fed a low-fat diet didn't experience significant weight gain from either type of potato chips.
Previous rat studies showed saccharin and other artificial sweeteners also can promote weight gain and increased body fat.
Read the American Psychological Association release on weight gain.
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