Does salt make you fat?

Salt itself does not make you fat; this is because it doesn't cause your body to gain or lose fat. Salt is free of calories. Eating high amounts of salt may cause weight gain because excessive salt prompts the body to retain water.

A number of diets require eating foods that are low in salt or free of sodium. This can cause rapid weight loss, which is actually the body getting rid of water weight. However, whenever foods with salt are introduced back into the diet, the weight is quickly re-gained. Foods that are high in salt are often those that are processed and low in fiber. These foods can put weight on the body.