Carbohydrates (“carbs”) do not make you fat. Excess calories make you fat. Carbohydrates contain calories, as do protein and fat, the 3 nutrients that contain calories. Most people tend to overeat carbs more than protein or fat. Often it is the sugar and fat contained in carbohydrates that make you fat. Also, many carbs are "processed," so you don’t get the advantage of feeling full from the fiber found in unprocessed carbs. For example, whole grain pasta is more filling — and makes you feel full and satisfied longer — than white pasta, even though both have the same amount of calories. What changes the number of calories in the pasta we eat is the amount of sauce and butter we put on our pasta. What you want to do is eat carbs (whole grain and processed) as well as fruits and vegetables while keeping in mind your overall calorie needs.

Additional Resources:

http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/2004/22/calories.html