MYTH: I Should Only Eat "Low-fat" Foods And I'll Eat Less And Lose Weight

FACT: "Low-fat" versions of various things, like granola, are lower in fat but usually only slightly lower in calories. Low-fat granola, for example, is usually about 10% lower in calories than the regular kind. Remember, it's the calories that count. The trouble is that when people eat "low-fat" labeled foods, they tend to eat more of them and often consume more calories than they would have if they had eaten the regular food. Because they believe it's healthier, they feel free to eat more of it. In one study, people were given either regular granola or "low-fat" granola while they watched a video. In fact, they were all given the low-fat version. However, those who were told that their granola was "low-fat" kept eating it long after the ones eating the "regular" granola had stopped eating. In fact, they ate 49% more of it and a total of 84 more calories. Overweight people are particularly vulnerable to being tricked by the low-fat label. In another study, overweight people ate 46% more chocolate and 89 more calories when it was labeled "low-fat". Regular weight people only ate 16% more of the low-fat chocolate.

Source: INRseminars.com