Kitchen Chemistry: The Cooking Oil That May Be Driving Obesity

February 21, 2026

Though there are various cooking oils to choose from, soybean oil remains the most commercially popular choice in America. But is this cheap option making us obese? Our experts reveal how the high concentration of a particular fatty acid in this common oil may be influencing how our bodies store fat and contribute to rising health concerns.

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Sonia P. Deol, assistant professional researcher in the department of microbiology and plant pathology, University of California, Riverside
Frances M. Sladek, professor of cell biology & toxicologist, University of California, Riverside

Sonia P. Deol says that despite food being readily available for most Americans, our bodies still operate as if we don’t know when our next meal will be.

While not all animal studies can be accurately translated to effects in humans, Sladek believes this is one area where we can assume the results would be extremely similar.