Carbohydrates, not necessarily fat, can cause obesity.

We know that obesity is not healthy. We know that when a person becomes too fat, chronic diseases are bound to follow.

Thus, it is not strange that people avoid fats but not the other types of food. When we buy meat, we try to have the leanest parts. That is the right path for people to take.

However, we need fats as nutrionists and research will tell you. Fats, be they liquids or solids are essential to our health.

In a previous posting, I have written on the need of fats to be consumed together with vitamins A, D, E and K for these vitamins to be digested and absorbed.

Fats are also necessary for healthy skin and hair. The fat around our organs insulate them against shock. It promotes healthy cell function and is a ready source of energy as well as maintaining body temperature.

Toxic substances entering the bloodstream can be held captive in fat tissues till they can be removed through our body's waste disposal system.

Some fatty acids are essential nutrients which means that they can't be produced in our body and need to be consumed in small quantities through food.

Fats are nutrients that the body uses to build nerve tissue and hormones.

Fat gives food flavor and texture, making food tastier. However, fats also contain a lot of calories and therefore it is better to eat lean meat.

Nevertheless, despite avoiding too much lard, people in developing or developed countries are suffering from sicknesses brought on by obesity and too much fat in the body.

It is the result of concentrating on fat as the problem and forgetting other facts about nutrition.

Have we ever thought ot the amount of calories we take in from carbohydrates such as grains, fruits and vegetables? Have we ever thought of the calories from excessive intake of protein? When we take in too many calories; more than what our body needs daily, what happens to the excess calories?

In fact, there are some among us who consume so much carbohydrates and protein that it exceeds the healthy portion needed in our diet. According to the nutritionists, we should take approximately 25% of the calories needed from fat. The remaining 75% ought to come from carbohydrates and protein. But, is the calories consumed through carbohydrates and protein 75% of our diet? For a lot of people it's "No!". It's a resounding 'no!'.

Especially for office staff who do not perform any strenous physical tasks, the carbohydrates and protein ought to be less.

In fact, when excessive simple carbohydrates, as opposed to complex carbohydrates are consumed, the sugar content is released so quickly into the bloodstream that it raises the blood sugar level leading to insulin increase there which is not good for our health.

Because simple carbohydrates are easily digested, we feel hungry faster and so we consume even more food with a even greater increase in calories in our body.

Where does the excess calories go to. Unlike the fibres and undigestible seeds they are not excreted. They are changed into fat. And that is how carbohydrates could be the culprit to the problem of obesity.

To lose weight needs discipline, knowing our daily energy output, understanding calories and how excess is converted to fat and the type of fats we ought to consume.

The failure of most weight-loss programmes is due to inattentiveness to such facts.

Let us go into failure to maintain weight loss in a later posting.