Is A Low-Fat Diet The Wrong Way To Diet?

A report that has recently surfaced has issued a warning to the current dietary guidelines best-practices. The National Obesity Forum has emphatically stated that it is not “fat” that is making us fat, and that major health bodies are operating in the interests of the food industry rather than the public.

Their contention is that “low fat” and “lite” diets are actually contributing to the obesity epidemic currently sweeping the western population. They maintain that meat, fish, dairy and high-fat healthy foods like avocados are the way to maintain a healthy diet.

The primary culprit to causing obesity – they claim – is excess processed sugars and snacking between meals.

Processed foods labelled “low fat”, “lite”, “low cholesterol” or “proven to lower cholesterol” should be avoided at all costs, and people with type 2 diabetes should eat a fat-rich diet rather than one based on carbohydrates. All of this is causing quite the stir and some ferocious debating among the scientific communities.

The authors of the report argue that the influence of the food industry represents a “significant threat to public health” and maintain the recent Eatwell Guide from Public Health England (PHE) was produced with a large number of people from the food and drink industry.

So, what is the answer?

Professor David Haslam is adamant that the way to maintaining a healthy weight is not to try and “exercise” your way around an unhealthy diet – though exercise is important – rather it is to eat a diet that is high in saturated fats (meats, fish, nuts, seeds and avocados are great sources of this) avoid processed sugars, and eat smaller portions.

“Eat fat to get slim. Don’t fear fat. Fat is your friend. It’s now truly time to bring back the fat.” Dr Haslam says.

One thing is certain however, for the last half-century, the public has been subjected to insufficient evidence that has at best been misleading, and at worse been responsible for the rise in obesity that is now crippling our societies.

Whatever the outcome, it appears that according to some scientists, fat is back on the menu.

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