Only eating fat makes you fat

False. Eating fat will make you fat but so will other foods. It is excessive intake of energy (kilojoules), in any form, over our needs which makes us fat. Alcohol, protein and carbohydrate can all be broken down and converted into fat. Reducing physical activity while remaining on our usual diet can mean taking in energy beyond our needs; this also can make us fat.

Energy (measured as kilojoules) comes in the form of fat (37 kilojoules per gram), alcohol (29 kilojoules per gram), protein (17 kilojoules per gram), carbohydrate 16 kilojoules per gram) and dietary fibre of the kind which is broken down in the large intestine (about 13 kilojoules per gram, see WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT DIETARY FIBRE). (See also KILOJOULES ARE MORE FATTENING THAN CALORIES).

It is easier to overeat foods of higher energy density (more kilojoules per gram), like fatty foods, than those of lower energy density. Lower energy dense foods, especially plant foods containing dietary fibre, carbohydrate and water, are generally more bulky and give a feeling of fullness.