Is It True That Chocolate Makes You Fat?

People have always believed that chocolate makes you fat and is bad for your health, but this is actually not true. Find out more in this article.
Is It True That Chocolate Makes You Fat?
Elisa Morales Lupayante

Written and verified by the pedagogue in physical education and nutritionist Elisa Morales Lupayante.

Last update: 27 May, 2022

What’s more delicious than chocolate? Very few people don’t like chocolate. Therefore, it still continues to be one of the most coveted delicacies of the world. But it has had a very bad reputation. People have always thought that chocolate makes you fat or increases your cholesterol because of its fat and sugar content. 

Recently, a group of researchers from the University of Granada have abolished the taboo that chocolate makes you fat. People have always conspired against chocolate. Some people believe its helpful, but even more think chocolate makes you fat.

Regardless of what they say about chocolate, it’s rich in flavonoids, which are very important for the body. Remember these vitamins are extremely healthy.

Coronary artery disease is one of the conditions that this food may help fight. It’s also a good antioxidant, serves as an antithrombotic, and an anti-inflammatory.

Is the idea that chocolate makes you fat supported by research?

The new study by Nutrition magazine analyzed how chocolate influences fat accumulation in the most important areas of the body (your abdomen and other parts). The most impressive result is that chocolate has very low levels of fat. Therefore, it doesn’t affect any physical activity or diet that you are on.

The HELENA study (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) selected teenagers between twelve and seventeen years old for this study. In total, they used 1,458 teenagers. This study wanted to find out the dietary habits of young people in several European countries, with one of them being Spain.

Different types of chocolate

They also observed body measurements, physical activity, and the diet of the teenagers that were participating in the test. Every result was independent of what the participants in the test consumed or did. 

Researchers have stated that foods shouldn’t be valued for the biological impact they have on the body or for their calorie content.

Although they determined that chocolate isn’t a danger to becoming obese, researchers insist that its consumption should be under control. 

They stated that: “In moderation, chocolate can be good. But eating too much of it is definitely harmful. As they say, ‘There is such a thing as too much of a good thing.'”

So, can you eat it freely?

Lastly, researches emphasize that chocolate is not dangerous for anyone, especially if you think you’ll gain weight from it. The important thing is to not eat it excessively. And remember, some foods that are dangerous for others may be a total benefit for your own health.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Moliner-Urdiales, D., Ruiz, J. R., Ortega, F. B., Jiménez-Pavón, D., Vicente-Rodriguez, G., Rey-López, J. P., … & Noriega-Borge, M. J. (2010). Secular trends in health-related physical fitness in Spanish adolescents: the AVENA and HELENA studies. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 13(6), 584-588.
  • Ried K., Fakler P., Stocks NP., Effect of cocoa on blood pressure. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2017.
  • Sharma GN., Gupta G., Sharma P., A comprehensive review of free radicals, antioxidants, and their relationship with human ailments. Crit Rev Eukaryot Gene Expr, 2018. 28 (2): 139-154.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.