For many years, the American Heart Association recommended a low-fat diet for maintaining weight and avoiding obesity-related ailments such as heart disease. While obesity involves having too much fat in the body, low-fat diets don't necessarily lead to long-lasting weight loss or reduced risk of heart disease. However, a short-term fat-restricted diet that eliminates unhealthy forms of fat can jump-start weight loss. Furthermore, doctors frequently recommend fat-restricted diets for people who have ailments that make it difficult for the body to digest fat, such as pancreatitis and gallbladder disease.
