QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hill, J. O. Articles by Wyatt, H. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hill, J. O. Articles by Wyatt, H. T.

---

Supplement

Dietary Fat Intake and Regulation of Energy Balance: Implications for Obesity^{1 ,2}

Center for Human Nutrition, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262

³To whom correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed.

Obesity represents a major threat to health and quality of life. Although obesity has strong genetic determinants, the increasing prevalence of obesity in populations around the world suggests that environmental factors are promoting or exacerbating the problem. Experts are calling for public health efforts to deal with the global epidemic of obesity. Such a campaign would require that we identify and modify environmental factors that promote obesity. Our current food supply is high in fat, and high fat diets have been suggested to promote obesity by increasing energy intake, thus increasing the probability of positive energy balance and weight gain. However, others argue that high fat diets are not promoting obesity. In this paper, we review evidence from animal studies, carefully controlled laboratory studies, cross-sectional studies, clinical trials and studies in individuals at high risk to develop obesity. Although there are many environmental factors promoting excess energy intake and discouraging energy expenditure, it is clear that consumption of a high fat diet increases the likelihood of obesity and that the risk of obesity is low in individuals consuming low fat diets. On the basis of the available data, the current public health recommendations to lower dietary fat intake appear to be appropriate.

KEY WORDS: • body weight regulation • energy balance

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Pelletier, K. Gauthier, O. Sideleva, J. Samarut, and J. E. Silva Mice Lacking the Thyroid Hormone Receptor-{alpha} Gene Spend More Energy in Thermogenesis, Burn More Fat, and Are Less Sensitive to High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Endocrinology, December 1, 2008; 149(12): 6471 - 6486. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Zhang, X. Chen, J. Aravindakshan, and M. R. Sairam Changes in Adiponectin and Inflammatory Genes in Response to Hormonal Imbalances in Female Mice and Exacerbation of Depot Selective Visceral Adiposity by High-Fat Diet: Implications for Insulin Resistance Endocrinology, December 1, 2007; 148(12): 5667 - 5679. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Morens, M. Keijzer, K. de Vries, A. Scheurink, and G. van Dijk Effects of high-fat diets with different carbohydrate-to-protein ratios on energy homeostasis in rats with impaired brain melanocortin receptor activity Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, July 1, 2005; 289(1): R156 - R163. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]