Study: Fat Substitutes May Contribute to Weight Gain
June 21/West Lafayette, Ind./Purdue University -- Researchers at Purdue University found provocative evidence that eating foods containing fat substitutes not only does not aid weight loss but may actually contribute to weight gain.
In the study, rats were divided into groups, some eating a high-fat diet, others a low-fat diet. Those on the high-fat diet were further divided into two groups. One group was given, in addition to its regular chow, Pringles chips that were high in fat and calories. The other half of the high-fat-diet group was given full-calorie Pringles some days and low-calorie Pringles other days. Those low-calorie chips contained olestra, a calorie-free fat substitute.