Ask the Diabetes Educator Archive

1/27/03

Q:

Why is it important to control fat intake?

A:

High fat intake, particularly saturated varieties, is directly associated with higher risk for heart disease and some cancers, and is a path to obesity. The popular high fat/high protein diets wish to make other claims up to a point. How fat intake affects you personally will show up in your lab-related numbers and body fat composition as more direct markers. Our health profile is not just about fat here; refined carbohydrates also can precipitate similar responses.