Anyone else watch The Biggest Loser?

As I sit here and eat lunch I note that my pack of Lance Crackers says boldly on the front "0g Trans Fat." Which doesn't, by the way, mean there's no trans fat. It just means there's less than 0.5 g per serving. The only way to know for sure is to look at the ingredients list.

The problem is that there is no ONE thing that is causing this problem. No, but there is at least one thing that could be eliminated that would at least help, and that thing is trans fat.

Trans fats are just the flavor of the week and an opportunity for some elected officials to pound their chests that they have done something for the community; or state in this case. I think it was just New York City, wasn't it?

Trans fats are not the reason that anybody is fat. An unbalanced intake/burning of calories is what causes obesity. Trans fats are great for helping one to develop heart disease so I do try to avoid them. Having said that, it is a little troubling that a state is banning these fats to protect it's population. [/QUOTE There is an article in this month's Prevention Magazine that says that trans fats don't break down in the body so they do cause weight gain. So not only do trans fats cause cardiac problems but also weight gain. Personally I wish no govt had to ban them but I'm glad they did. I am one that avoids them like the plague but that means not really being able to enjoy a dinner or lunch out for fear of trans fats. My father-in-law died of a heart attack at 56. His wife cooked with trans fats. I fear for my husband since he grew up eating this same food. Now we know we can go to eat in NYC soon and know it's a bit better on our health and weight. Alison

So not only do trans fats cause cardiac problems but also weight gain. Taking in more than you put out causes weight gain. You could lose weight eating nothing but trans fats, mind you it wouldn't be so much fun.

Trans fatty acids (commonly termed trans fats) are a type of unsaturated fat (and may be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated). Trans fats occur naturally, in small quantities, in meat and dairy products from ruminants. Most trans fats consumed today, however, are industrially created as a side effect of partial hydrogenation of plant oils — a process developed in the early 1900s and first commercialized as Crisco in 1911. Partial hydrogenation changes a fat's molecular structure (raising its melting point and reducing rancidity) but this process also results in a proportion of the changed fat becoming trans fat. Unlike other fats, trans fats are neither required nor beneficial for health. Eating trans fat increases the risk of coronary heart disease. For these reasons, health authorities worldwide recommend that consumption of trans fat be reduced to trace amounts. Trans fats from partially hydrogenated oils are generally considered to be more of a health risk than those occurring naturally. Trans fats are increasingly being linked to chronic health conditions, are tightly regulated in a few countries, are mandatory on product labels in many others, and are the central issue in several ongoing lawsuits (particularly against fast food outlets). Many companies are voluntarily removing trans fats from their products, or establishing trans-free product lines. Chemically, trans fats are made of the same building blocks as non-trans fats, but have a different shape. In trans fat molecules, the double bonds between carbon atoms (characteristic of all unsaturated fats) are in the trans rather than the cis configuration, resulting in a straighter, rather than a kinked shape. As a result, trans fats are less fluid and have a higher melting point than the equivalent cis fats. That's from wikipedia

Overweight people are overweight because they ingest more CALORIES than they burn. True, but the main discussion here hasn't been about obesity, it's been about whether trans fats should be banned. The two topics may be related, but I think they are two distinct topics.

I have no problem with the banning of trans fats (although they may be good for business!). What I take issue with is the belief that this will significantly impact either the overall health of our population or the prevalence of coronary artery disease (not to mention the incidence of obesity). Please note that I said significantly. I also find it ironic that we're not seeing a ban on tobacco products, the health risks of which vastly overshadow that of trans fats. New York and Ohio have banned smoking in restuarants and bars, though the second hand effects of that are negative so it's not just the smoker killing themselves ...

... a little taste of Oreos now and again might be Ok...or is it? Oreos are OK now: www.bantransfats.com/theoreocase.html

I think the biggest loser is the person whose dietary decisions are made for him by his own government. Perhaps some of the medical professionals on here can elaborate on this but I am quite positive that a few grams of trans fats scattered about in ones diet are not likely to kill them provided they have an otherwise healthy diet and exercise routine. The lawmakers who drafted this legislation are looking for a medical silver bullet. That one part of the US diet that is making people fat and subject to heart disease. The problem is that there is no ONE thing that is causing this problem. They are barking up the wrong tree and they need to understand that you can't legislate people into good health...it has to come from within. My personal opinion is that lawmakers should spend more time on issues like crime, jobs, infrastructure, schools, etc.