Fat from different sources is still fat, even though extra virgin olive oil might be slightly better for you. Many people have noted that Mediterranean people have less heart disease than others and attributed it to the olive oil in their diet. The reason that people from Mediterranean regions had in the past fewer heart attacks than Northern European nations is that they ate less meat and more fresh fruits and vegetables, not because they used olive oil. Now, with globalisation, there is not much difference in the amounts of meat eaten in different parts of Europe.