I listened to an NPR story this morning covering the recent diet study that showed Atkins to be superior for weight loss over the traditional nostrums of the American Heart Association.
They interviewed the head of the AHA, who was clearly chagrined, and trying to spin his way out of it. Unfortunately, the interviewer let him.
The most egregious thing that he said was that clearly high protein and fat must be a problem, because our kids are getting fat, and they’re eating a lot of fast food, which is full of protein and fat.
The obvious rejoinder to this (of which the reporter didn’t avail himself), is that Atkins would be appalled at a fast food meal. Not for its fat and protein content (which isn’t all that high, at least as far as protein goes), but for its high-glycemic carbohydrate content.
I always find it fascinating to see how the fast-food bashers miss the point, because they continue to worship the food pyramid.
A supersize McDonalds meal contains french fries (lotta carbs), a bun (lot of white bread), and usually a sugary soft drink. The meat and fat are almost an afterthought. Yet when you hear the complaints, the focus is always on the fat, rather than the carbs.
It was disappointing to see the reporter let the AHA head get away with this.
He also trotted out the hoary old tale about how all that mattered was caloric intake and exercise. He still refuses to concede that diet might influence metabolism.
Every study like this erodes the foundation of the food pyramid. Eventually, when the evidence grows too overwhelming, I suspect that we’re going to see it invert.
[Update at 8:30 AM PST]
Here’s another article on the subject from AP.
It also contains blaring ignorance of biochemistry from a supposed nutrition “expert.”
Dr. Alice Lichtenstein, a nutrition expert at Tufts University, said she thinks too much is made of the amounts of carbohydrates and fats in people’s diets as they try to shed weight.
“There is no magic combination of fat versus carbs versus protein,” she said. “It doesn’t matter in the long run. The bottom line is calories, calories, calories.”
Quelle simplisme.
I’m starting to think that movie actors have as much credibility as these people. At least they should.