Dr Hoebel said he believed high-fat foods stimulate opioids or 'pleasure chemicals' in the brain.
But so are lots of things: high-fat foods, alcohol, fast cars, unprotected sex and jogging all take a dreadful toll.
"In fact, consuming shrimp instead of other high fat foods will have beneficial effects, " said Elizabeth De Oliveira of Rockefeller University.
The British Medical Association (BMA) is discussing a proposal to charge 17.5% VAT on high-fat foods such as biscuits, cakes and processed meals.
The Japanese have lower rates of prostate and breast cancer than the U.S., a fact attributed to their greater intake of soy and low-fat foods.
But one of the long recognised problems of low-fat foods is how they are used: the fewer the calories, the more you can eat, the mantra goes for some.
One of the most cited studies, by University of Washington researcher Adam Drewnowski, found that women who were given a drug that blocks opioid receptors consumed less sweet, high-fat foods--but only if they were bulimic.
No sooner had heavily advertised sweets and snacks taken their toll on the waistlines of those who could afford to indulge than slimming came into vogue, creating a market for dieting aids and low-fat foods as lucrative as that for the products that had caused the weight problem in the first place.
So began our nation's nearly three-decade obsession with removing dietary fat from foods.
WSJ: The Experts: What role should government play in combatting obesity?
Half made no change in their diets, while the other half increased calcium from low-fat dairy foods to about 1500 milligrams a day.
Trans fatty acids constitute up to 60 percent of the fat in processed foods containing hydrogenated fats.
Fat-free foods don't fit into a nutrient-dense diet unless they're naturally free of fats, like vegetables and fruit.
CNN: Get the biggest bang for your calorie with nutrient-dense food
In fact, research shows that having less variety in your diet, especially when it comes to high fat and sugary foods, can help with weight loss and weight maintenance.
Still, if you're trying to limit saturated fat in your diet by enjoying low- and fat-free foods, the trade-off may be worth it if you limit sodium in other areas.
With billions spent in advertising high-fat, sugary foods to children, it's no wonder parents have to take a kid outside for a good talking-to to persuade them to eat the healthy stuff.
Snacking on high fat, high calorie foods and smoking can increase your risk of CHD.
The Liberal Democrats have occasionally mooted things like a sugar tax, and people have talked about taxing the saturated fat content of processed foods.
They're particularly receptive to the associated message that the restrictions on tobacco displays, and perhaps next on tobacco pack design, are the thin end of a wedge that could see grocers having to pass on fat tax on unhealthy foods.
Foods containing more than 2.3% saturated fat - including dairy produce, meat and processed foods - were subject to the surcharge.
In addition to consuming more calories, the volunteers seemed to gravitate to high-fat, high-protein foods when sleep deprived.
One little problem: Removing the fat made many "health foods" taste like cardboard, so manufacturers added sweeteners to make everything palatable.
WSJ: The Experts: What role should government play in combatting obesity?
They can get hernias at the site of incision, as well as "dumping" syndrome, where they get physically ill, nauseous and sweaty if they eat foods high in fat or sugar.
The solution is one we already know: eat foods naturally lower in fat and calories and avoid artificial substitutes.
But health advocates have been unimpressed with the food industry's efforts to reduce fat, sugar and salt in foods.
MSN: Spending on food advertising to kids fell in '09 - U.S. FTC
Following the DASH diet means eating foods that are low in fat, cholesterol and salt.
It also called for a "traffic light" system in stores to mark out healthy and unhealthy foods, and for annual fat tests for children.
The claim states that a diet rich in whole-grain foods and low in saturated fat and cholesterol may help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Much of this behavior, which he calls conditioned hyper-eating, is due to brain pathways that are established and reinforced by the regular consumption of highly appealing high-fat, high-sugar, salty foods.
The issue of childhood obesity often makes the headlines in newspapers, with lots of stories warning about the high levels of fat, salt and sugar in some foods and drinks.
Wall Street says this "crisis" is creating fat opportunities for companies pushing low-carb foods.
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