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Last Updated: Jan 10, 2023
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Visible vs Invisible fats leading to Obesity

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Dt. Nancy KashyapDietitian/Nutritionist • 8 Years Exp.Dietitian/Nutritionist
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Obesity is the condition of being fat or overweight. Being obese poses a lot of difficulty for an individual in his/her daily life. Apart from heightened health conditions, being obese can lead to a lack of mobility, excessive eating, and lower self-esteem. Obesity is mostly caused due to the presence of fats in the body. Lack of physical activities and excessive fat in your diet are found to be the leading causes of obesity.

What are visible and invisible facts actually?

Weight gain happens when the number of calories consumed exceeds the number of calories burnt. Fats contain a huge amount of calories and although reducing the intake of visible fats is possible, avoiding invisible fats could be a challenge. Visible fats are the ones which one is able to see in foods such as margarine, butter, cooking oils, steaks, bacon and other such. On the other hand, invisible or hidden fats are those which are not visible, but present in a wide variety of foods. Mono and poly-saturated fats present in nuts, seeds, cheese, chocolates, hamburgers, French fries are some common examples of hidden or invisible fats.

How visible and invisible fats affect your health?

The presence of fats makes it possible for various culinary functions to occur. For example, the preparation of cakes requires fats which make it soft and light. Similarly, adding fats during the process of cooking tenderizes foods and also improve its appearance. When consumed, fats provide the necessary energy to the body and help in the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Limiting the intake of both visible and invisible fats is very crucial as it can prevent serious health issues in the long run. Apart from obesity, excessive fats can lead to diabetes, heart diseases, and stroke. Selecting low-fat foods or cooking food with little fats can help in reducing their intake. A conscious person should read food labels and choose foods with low calories.

In conclusion, visible fats are easy to spot and avoid, but invisible fats are not. So, one may be at an increased risk of obesity from hidden fats.

Related Tip: 5 Practical Ways to Prevent Obesity in Children