Fat malabsorption is a condition that results in a very limited ability of the body to absorb fats in the gastrointestinal tract. It can be caused by a number of underlying conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, chronic liver disease, pancreatic cancer, AIDS and HIV.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's publication "Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010" emphasizes three major goals for Americans, one of which is to decrease consumption of foods containing high amounts of saturated fat.

The Institute of Medicine recommends you consume between 45 and 65 percent of your total daily calories from carbohydrates, 10 to 35 percent from protein and 20 to 35 percent of your daily calorie intake from fats.

A large amount of visceral fat -- the fat that forms between your internal organs -- swells your abdomen and gives you a more prominent belly. Even if you have little excess subcutaneous fat, the kind you can pinch under your skin, you can still carry excess visceral fat.

Walking around town with bigger arms and a thinner stomach can help boost your self-confidence levels. Another benefit is that any time you lose stomach fat, you also reduce your risk for chronic diseases. Losing weight in one area, while gaining it in another is challenging, but not impossible.

Moderate alcohol consumption may lower your risk of heart disease, says the Harvard School of Public Health. This is defined as up to two drinks per day for men and one drink daily for women, with one drink being equivalent to 12 ounces of beer, 1.5 ounces of spirits or 5 ounces of wine, such as red wine.

Gas normally occurs after eating too fast, not chewing thoroughly or after eating gas-producing foods. However, gas can also occur due to gastritis, acid reflux, food intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome. These conditions flare up when certain foods are eaten that irritate the stomach.

Your body gets energy from calories, which come from three sources: fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Although your body can convert the calories from all three of these macronutrients into energy, fat gives you the most energy because it contains the most calories per gram.

You need at least a small amount of fat in your diet to provide the essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids your body can't make and to help with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

In an attempt to be healthier and lose weight, many dieters try to limit their intake of fats. While this can be advantageous, you do need some fat in your diet. Coconut oil and ghee are both fat sources that may not traditionally be thought of as healthy, but they can offer some benefits.

If you eat a typical American diet, you may be getting as much as 25 times more omega-6 fats than omega-3 fats.

It's hard not to love peanut butter, at any age. It's rich, mellow flavor works well in everything from Thai food to a simple PB & J, and it's high in both protein and healthful unsaturated fats. Unfortunately, at about 100 calories per tablespoon, it's terribly easy to have too much of a good thing.