Fat: The Misunderstood Nutrient

Most people are aware that high levels of saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet are linked to increased blood cholesterol levels and a greater risk of heart disease. More Americans are now limiting fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol in their diets than in the recent past, and fewer people are dying from the most common form of heart disease. But at the same time that the typical American diet has become less fatty, the typical American has become fatter, children included.

If you think children today are bigger than ever, you're right. They're bigger, taller, and fatter. According to Ken Ellis, Ph.D., a scientist at the USDA's Children's Nutrition Research Center and professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, one in three girls and one in four boys have body fat levels considered obese for adults. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend choosing a diet lower in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol; however, they do not recommend eliminating fat from the diet. Fat is an essential nutrient needed by the body. It shouldn't be avoided entirely.

What is so essential about fat?

· Cells need fat in their membranes. Without it, the cells could neither form properly nor regulate the entry and exit of nutrients such as the fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K) nor aide their absorption in the intestine.

· Fat is the only source of the essential fatty acids linoleic and linolenic acids.

· Fat is also critical to protect and insulate our internal organs.

· Storage fat is important too as an energy reserve.

Although many students in grades 7-12 are choosing low-fat foods, the basis for dietary change is due to their concern over appearance and weight. In general, most teens are "eating on the run" and relying on vending machines and fast foods for nourishment. More U.S. children than ever are eating away from home. Roughly one-third of total calories for 12 to 19-year-olds are consumed away from home. One in three school-age youth consumes more than 40 percent of total calories from outside foods. By the teen years, fast food restaurants become the locale of choice. This erratic pattern discourages a low-fat diet.

Eating is one of life's greatest pleasures. Food choices depend on history, culture, and environment. People eat foods for enjoyment. Family, friends, and beliefs play major roles in the ways people select foods. Favorite high-fat foods can be eaten in moderation as part of a healthy diet; they simply can't be as dominant as they've become in the typical American diet.