Year 8 PDHPE Student Workbook

Fats in our diet

Fats are an essential part of our diet and important for good health. There are different
types of fats, with some fats being healthier than others. It is important to eat unsaturated
fats in small amounts as part of a balanced diet, in order to stay healthy.
When eaten in large amounts, all fats (including healthy fats) can contribute to weight gain.
Fat is higher in energy than any other nutrient, so eating less fat overall is likely to cause
weight loss.
Eating less saturated and trans fats may help lower a person's risk of heart disease. When
buying products, it's important to check the labels and choose the varieties of food that are
lower in saturated and trans fats and higher in unsaturated fats.

Saturated fats
Eating greater amounts of saturated fat is linked with an increased risk of heart disease
and high blood cholesterol levels. These fats are usually solid at room temperature and are
found in a variety of products.

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1. Outline examples of animal-based products which contain saturated fats.

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2. Outline examples of plant-derived products which contain saturated fats.

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3. Outline examples of manufactured and packaged foods which contain saturated fats.
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114 Licensed for 2022

 Year 8 PDHPE Student Workbook

Unsaturated fats
Unsaturated fats are an important part of a healthy diet. These fats help reduce the
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they replace saturated fats in the diet. There are two main types of unsaturated fats –
polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats.

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1. List some sources of polyunsaturated fats.

a. Omega-3 fats:

b. Omega-6 fats:

2. List some sources of monounsaturated fats:

Trans fats
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to lower the amounts of trans fats you eat to help you stay healthy. Small amounts of trans
fats occur naturally in dairy and meat products. During processing, some fats and oils
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deep-fried foods and baked foods such as doughnuts, cakes and biscuits.

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