This article has been updated since its original publish date of August 5th, 2022 to feature more expert insight.
Having visceral fat or “hidden fat” is perhaps one of the most common struggles people face nowadays. According to health experts, it is caused primarily by two factors: prolonged high-calorie consumption and lack of physical activity.
Lisa Richards, certified nutritional coach and creator of The Candida Diet warns that visceral fat can affect our bodies by producing chemicals and hormones which can be dangerous, and as a result place us “at higher risk for serious health issues.” With that in mind, you always want to make sure that you’re following a well-balanced diet with great nutritional value and avoiding calorie dense meals. But what kind of food exactly leads to visceral fat?
We reached out to health experts— including Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD, registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements, Dana Ellis Hunnes, PhD, MPH, RD, senior dietitian at UCLA medical center and author of Recipe for Survival, certified weight loss coach Joann Wen, founder of Spices & Greens, and Dr. Amy Lee, board certified doctor in internal medicine, medical nutrition and obesity medicine and partner of Nucific— to find out. Keep reading to learn more.
Potato Chips & Visceral Fat
"Potato chips are traditionally processed and fried with added sodium or artificial flavors," Best tells us. "The consumer may also use high fat dips or cheeses when eating them and is likely to mindlessly eat them without noticing the quantity."
Dr. Lee adds, "If you eat a few chips, the calories really don’t add onto the waistline." But let's be real: We almost always eat a handful, amirite? And because of the added salt, there's a possibility that your mouths will feel dry and dehydrated.
Wen notes that "many chips are fried in unhealthy oils and coated with salt, making them very high in calories and unhealthy fats. They also contain little to no fiber, which can help to keep you feeling full and prevent overeating."
You should try to avoid potato chips to steer clear of excessive saturated fats, high sodium content, and empty calories that can hinder your health and weight management goals.
Dr. Lee continues, "The sense of thirst and food cravings are pretty similar psychologically, so a lot of people don’t grab a bottle of water to quench a thirst but may find themselves eating more food, hence calories that could be stored."
Similarly, Richard warns, "Potato chips are also generally made from refined carbohydrates that have been fried. This adds excess carbs, fat, and sodium into your diet." Yikes!
Hunnes also explains that ultimately, potato chips are high in calories but low on nutritional value. "They have a lot of calories for their volume, and don't satiate us in the same way that low-calorie but nutrient-dense foods that are high in fiber and water do," she explains.
