The average American diet, heavy on fatty foods, is a major contributor to chronic or life-threatening illness, including diabetes and coronary heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.

A diet high in fat is very unhealthy, leading to an expanding waistline and increased risk for serious medical conditions, including high cholesterol and heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol is the primary reason for high blood cholesterol levels.

A fruit in the berry family, avocados vary significantly from other fruits in their nutrient content, with the majority of their calories coming from fat. Originating in Central and South America, 90 percent of the avocados eaten in the U.S. today are raised in California; 9 percent are grown in Florida.

The doner kebab, a Turkish dish made with lamb meat and served in pita bread, is a popular late-night snack for pub-goers in the United Kingdom. These salty treats pack a high-calorie punch. A 2006 council survey, coordinated by the local council body, LACORS, tested 490 kebabs from around the U.K.

At first glance, coconut oil and canola oil may appear fairly similar, as they are both fats derived from plant sources and contain a similar number of calories per serving. Aside from that, however, they have plenty of differences.

When you hear about good and bad cholesterol, it is referring to cholesterol in your blood, not in the foods you eat. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, carries cholesterol away from your arteries to be excreted.

Jolly Ranchers are a type of hard candy made by the Hershey's company. The fruit flavor that comes from a Jolly Rancher is powerful.

Lipids are a group of natural molecules that includes fats. While an excess of some lipids may contribute to an increased risk of certain health problems, lipids also carry vital nutrients and support the body's basic functions.

Olive oil is prized for its nutty, earthy flavor and its high concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids, which can reduce bad cholesterol levels and help lower the risk for heart disease and stroke. Some people even claim it can treat acid reflux, but there isn't any evidence to support this.

While you may think that the best way to lose weight is to limit fat as much as possible, this isn't necessarily the case. You need some fat in your diet to stay healthy, and it can make your food more satisfying and your diet easier to stick with.

Coconut oil is made by extracting oil from mature coconut meat. The oil can then be refined or left as is, in which case it is known as virgin coconut oil. While coconut oil is high in fat, it is also rich in healthy fatty acids, which may have health benefits.

Fat is one of the six nutrients vital to optimum health. In addition to fat, you need carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals and water in your daily diet. Protein and carbohydrates each have about four calories per gram, while a gram of fat has about nine calories per gram.