Fat molecules include long chains of carbon atoms. Each carbon atom can connect to 4 other atoms. The chains are surrounded by hydrogen atoms that are connected to the carbon atoms in the chain.

• Sometimes a carbon atom connects to less than 4 atoms.
• It does this by forming a double bond with the carbon atom next to it.
• When this happens, there is not room for all the hydrogen atoms that would be there with no double bonds.
• Fats with less than the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms are unsaturated.

Saturated fats contain chains of carbon like the one in the picture. These chains have no double bonds between carbons. They have the most possible hydrogen atoms surrounding the chain. These kinds of fats are the most unhealthy. Most saturated fats come from animal products. They are found in soft, chewy candy and greasy, fried foods. Your body needs a small amount of fats each day, but very little of it should be saturated fats.