The upcoming low-fat US dietary guidelines are based on an unscientific report, from a biased expert committee. The report fails to consider any evidence that contradicts the last 35 years of nutritional advice. This is the just published message in the British Medical Journal, in an article written by the journalist Nina Teicholz:
BMJ: The scientific report guiding the US dietary guidelines: is it scientific? Dr. Fiona Godlee, The BMJ's Editor in Chief adds:
"These guidelines are hugely influential, affecting diets and health around the world. The least we would expect is that they be based on the best available science. Instead the committee has abandoned standard methodology, leaving us with the same dietary advice as before - low fat, high carbs.
Growing evidence suggests that this advice is driving rather than solving the current epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The committee's conflicts of interest are also a concern. We urgently need an independent review of the evidence and new thinking about diet and its role in public health."
Harsh criticism indeed, from one of the premier scientific journals, but well-deserved. For the US government to keep promoting low-fat diets in 2015 is beyond unscientific, it's approaching a sick joke.
At least more and more smart people are taking notice.
TIME: Here's What's Wrong With the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, Report SaysEarlier
The journalist Nina Teicholz wrote the article in the BMJ. Here's a video interview I did with her earlier this year:
