Implications of dietary fat for nutrition and energy balance

Probably, the majority of the population in modern consumer societies believes that the negative effects of dietary fat far outweigh the beneficial ones. Dietary fat is therefore considered the cause for obesity, and fat from animal origins is usually regarded as unhealthy whereas fat from plants is thought to be healthy and safe for human nutrition. However, public opinion is not compatible with current knowledge. Animal fat does not have a priori a fatty acid composition that is detrimental to good health. And though dietary fat is generally highly digestible and can be efficiently retained in body tissues, it is not the primary cause of obesity. The deposition of absorbed fat in excess of the oxidized amount occurs only under the situation of a positive energy balance. The latter depends not on fat intake alone, but rather on the amounts of all nutrients ingested and on energy expenditure as the second component of energy balance. A recommendation for moderation of dietary fat intake is nonetheless desirable because it is easy to overeat fatty (and sweet) foods. In the end, well-balanced diets help achieve intake of all indispensable nutrients.