The Effects of Trans Fats on Childhood Obesity

Trans Fat Explained

• Trans fats are man-made fats that are created when when food manufacturers add hydrogen to liquid oils to thicken them and turn them into solid fats. Food manufactures find trans fats attractive because they're inexpensive, they last for a long time and they extend the shelf life of their products. Trans fats also improve the taste and texture of certain foods, which means consumers are more willing to buy them, and that translates to increased profits for food manufacturers. While the manufacturers certainly reap the benefits of trans fats, consumers do not.

Trans Fat and Weight Gain

• Trans fats alone aren't the sole reason your child would gain weight when eating foods that contain the unhealthy fat. The reason trans fats are linked to weight gain is because the foods that contain them are often high in calories. Frozen pizzas, fast food, packaged snacks and baked goods are among the top sources of the dangerous fat, but these are also quite high in calories. When your child eats large amounts of them and doesn't burn off the calories, she will begin to gain an unhealthy amount of weight. If the situation becomes chronic, obesity can be the result.

Additional Trans Fat Dangers

• Unhealthy weight gain and obesity aren't the only problems associated with eating too many trans fats. Trans fats elevate bad cholesterol levels and lower good cholesterol levels. If that happens, your child is at an increased risk for heart disease, even at a young age. These dangerous fats can also clog your child's arteries, which puts him at a higher risk for heart attack and stroke, especially as he gets older, according to the American Heart Association's website. Diets high in trans fats can also raise your child's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, something that's even more prevalent in obese children.

Improving Your Child's Diet

• Strictly limiting your child's intake of trans fats is one way to help protect her long-term health and prevent unhealthy weight gain. Read nutrition and ingredient labels and choose foods that don't contain partially hydrogenated oils, which indicate that the food contains trans fats. When your child fills up on these trans fat-laden foods, it leaves less room in her belly for low-calorie and nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. If your child is already overweight or obese, speak with her pediatrician about the right combination of diet and exercise to help her shed excess pounds and improve her health.