Many popular food items in the United States and other developed countries are high in fat. Fatty foods include fried foods, many processed foods and red meat. Although fats are part of most people's diets, eating too much fatty foods can pose a number of different health problems. Consequently, diets high in fatty foods should be avoided.

Calories
Foods that are high in fat are also usually high in calories. This is because 1 g of fat contains 9 calories, MedlinePlus notes. In comparison, 1 g of protein or carbohydrate only contains 4 calories. As a result, fatty foods can result in a large increase in the caloric intake of a person's diet. Eating a diet that is high in calories makes people more likely to gain weight, unless they are also very physically active. People that are overweight or obese are more likely to develop a number of different health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, the Obesity Society notes. Type 2 diabetes can lead to an impaired immune system, poor circulation and blindness. People who are overweight are also more likely to suffer from arthritis due to the increased stress that the added weight places on the joints.

Atherosclerosis
Fatty foods can also increase a person's risk of developing atherosclerosis. Fatty foods are often high in cholesterol, trans fats and saturated fats. High cholesterol levels can result in the development of atherosclerosis, a condition in which cholesterol becomes deposited in the walls of the arteries. Atherosclerosis causes arteries to become stiff and narrow, which raises a person's risk of developing coronary heart disease and strokes. Saturated fats and trans fats, according to MedLinePlus, increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood, which can further accelerate atherosclerosis.

Fatty Foods and Addiction
One danger of eating foods that are high in fat is that over time the body can begin to crave these foods. High fat and high calorie diets activate pleasure centers within the brain, CNN.com reports. Over time, the repeated stimulation of these parts of the brain can induce chemical changes as the brain adjusts to the effects of fatty foods. This means that the brain will begin to expect fatty foods, which can cause intense cravings for french fries and other foods high in fat if fatty foods are not consumed for an extended period of time. The overall result is that eating fatty foods can lead to the desire to eat even more high fat foods, which can result in weight gain and atherosclerosis.