The particles of this fat substitute are too large for your body to absorb, so they just pass right through. Even seemingly benign foods can cause trouble. Even fat is good in moderation. Sodium and unsaturated fat are fine, and even healthy, in moderation. The American fat-free obsession is dangerous in two ways.
Empty calories tend to backfire.
A diet based on nutrient-empty foods does not satisfy hunger for long. As a result, the dieter may consume more food and thus gain weight. Adding to the problem is the message that impossibly thin is most desirable. Standards of beauty in many other countries are a little less rigid, yet the population of the U.S. is less healthy. It seems that the problem lies in extremes.