Too much of this 'healthy fat' could be adding to your waistline

Olive oil is known as a 'superfood', but new research on mice suggests it could promote weight gain more than other fats

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New research suggests that the fats in olive oil may lead to greater weight gain than those from other sources. The study, published in Cell Reports, found that the main fatty component in olive oil, known as oleic acid, may promote the growth of new fat cells.

Oleic acid is a type of monounsaturated fat, sometimes called omega-9. A major source of oleic acid is olive oil, but the fatty acid is also found in other oils – including rapeseed (canola) oil and sunflower oil – as well as foods such as nuts, meats, cheese, eggs and avocado.