Health Regulations to Fight Obesity

Lose Weight—It's the Law

As the dangerous and costly health effects of obesity soar, more government bodies are taking it upon themselves to keep your weight in check
By Greg Presto fitbie
 

December 2006: New York City Bans Trans Fats

For those who don't remember high school chemistry, the "trans" in trans fats refers to an arrangement of carbon atoms (in class, you probably learned—and forgot—that "trans" means "not cis"). In the trans setup, the carbon atoms sit on opposite sides of a double bond.

The point: Trans fats are bad. Their consumption lowers "good" cholesterol, raises "bad" cholesterol, and increases risks for coronary heart disease. And they're everywhere: Before this ban, just about every fast-food restaurant in NYC used trans fats to fry your food.

The ban took effect in 2008, but it's not necessarily foolproof for your health: Saturated fats for frying, like palm oil, don't contain trans fats, yet the American Heart Association considers them dangerous.
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