It is generally known that consuming too much fatty meat is unhealthy due to excessive intake of cholesterol and fat. However, in most cases, people can only identify visible fatty meat and pay attention to controlling its consumption. But many are unaware of hidden fatty meat, and thus may unknowingly consume a large amount of hidden animal fat.
In some restaurants, to achieve an ideal color, specially rendered lard (fat from frying fatty meat) is used as an ingredient for deep-fried foods, such as squirrel-shaped fish and some "basi" (candy-pulled) dishes. Some restaurants also use lard for cooking to enhance flavor or to make full use of fatty meat. These types of dishes are very easy to identify in winter because after the dish cools, the fat can be observed in a semi-solid state. Dishes with meat fillings and meatballs often contain a large amount of hidden fatty meat, which is easily overlooked.
Some people do not normally eat fatty dishes, but when hot pot, they enjoy fatty lamb, beef, and other meats with high animal fat content. Some even believe that while fatty pork is unhealthy, fatty beef and lamb are harmless. In reality, the dangers of excessive intake of various animal fats are similar; they all lead to higher intake of cholesterol, saturated fatty acids, and more calories than lean meat.
Furthermore, Chinese cooking techniques can often make fatty meat rich but not greasy, enticing people to eat more. While some fat may be rendered out due to longer cooking times, these dishes are still high in fat. Poultry skin is relatively high in fat, which is why some people enjoy eating it, such as in roasted duck and roasted chicken.