Final answer:
Saturated fats are characterized by the absence of double bonds between carbon atoms, leading to straight and tightly packed fatty acid chains that are solid at room temperature. They are typically found in animal products and some tropical oils and can raise LDL cholesterol levels when consumed in excess.
Step-by-step explanation:
Saturated fats are generally solid at room temperature, meaning they are not liquid at room temperature as some might believe. These fats are characterized by fatty acid chains with only single bonds between carbon atoms, meaning they contain all the hydrogen atoms that they possibly can, making their chains straight and rigid, allowing them to pack together tightly.
Common sources of saturated fats include animal fats like butter and the visible layers of fat in meats, as well as certain tropical oils and dairy products. Unlike unsaturated fats, which have double bonds between some of the carbon atoms and are usually liquid at room temperature, saturated fats are associated with an increased risk of heart disease when consumed in large amounts because they can raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels in the blood.