The low-fat craze of the 1980s and 1990s may have been well-intentioned, but if you ask today's health professionals, it probably did more harm than good. Though the idea went that cutting down on fat would cut calories (and therefore promote weight loss), we now know that not all fats are created equal. Some, like omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats, have tremendous health benefits like reducing inflammation and promoting heart health. Even the health profile of saturated fats is far more complex than we once believed.
Regardless of the type, fat isn't a dirty word—it's a necessary macronutrient for human life. (And it's now clear that eating fat doesn't make you fat.) Still, some food manufacturers continue to make low-fat versions of their products. For some folks who need a low-fat diet for medical reasons, this can be a boon. But for many of us, foods that have had their fat engineered into oblivion are not only unnecessary but potentially harmful. Often, by removing naturally occurring fat, food manufacturers must replace it with other, not-so-healthy fillers, emulsifiers, and other ingredients that don't add nutrition.
Before you snag a "light" or "diet" food off the grocery shelf, check out this list of 9 low-fat items that aren't as healthy as you might think.