Could Bad Fats Trigger Binges?

Have you ever guzzled down a bit of Ben & Jerry's—and felt like you simply had to go back for more? Researchers at the University of Texas' Southwesteern Medical Center in Dallas have discovered there's actual science behind this behavior. They found that certain kinds of "bad" fat (notably palmeitic acid, found in dairy products and beef) may take over the brain to the point of shutting down signals that you're full. Worse yet, the effects of this Invasion of the Appetite-Suppressant Snatchers may last three days. ("Good" fat like olive oil did not trigger the same zombie-style desire to keep eating more fat.)

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How it happens is still unknown, although the researchers speculate that the brain somehow incorporates certain fats into its structure. But the bottom (and thigh, and hip) line is this: if you don't want to go on a weekend-long bender, take it easy with the saturated fats.

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