When grocery shopping and looking at packaged food, Stahl advised to be on the look out for trans fats. Although they were banned by the FDA, and should no longer be found in packaged foods as of June 2018, in May 2018, the food industry argued that trans fats were necessary in certain circumstances. So the FDA gave food companies one more year to comply (and in some cases until January 2020), which means that these man-made fats, often listed as partially hydrogenated oils or partially hydrogenated fats, may still be lingering in your foods. They're found in some brands of margarine and shortening, baked goods, candy, frosting, and some sauces and dressings.
Why is trans fat bad for your belly? Past research indicates that trans fats increase the amount of fat around the belly, not to mention that it's dangerous for your heart health. So if you're unknowingly eating these foods, Stahl said avoiding them will help slim down your waistline.