A Heretic’s View: Blaming Food for Obesity Is Like Blaming Water for Drowning
There is a politically expedient but problematic fiction that ‘consensus’ matters in science. Since a million matching opinions do not constitute a fact, a consensus — either real or apparent — is not a statement about evidence but an exercise in groupthink in which the status quo is made explicit.Thus, scientific progress requires conservative and heretical thinkers — conservatives protect the authority and continuity of science, whereas heretics put forth creative dissent in an attempt to push the limits of what we know.
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Before the 20th century, obesity and cardiometabolic diseases such as type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were uncommon. Yet over the past 50 years, the prevalence of these maladies in horses, humans, dogs, cats, lab, and zoo animals increased to epidemic proportions. Given that these herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores have always consumed different diets, the claim that foods and beverages have suddenly caused parallel epidemics in different species is an extraordinary claim that requires extraordinary evidence. Yet there is no valid evidence supporting this belief.
A very long read - its well worth it.
Interesting and challenging views on the topic of food and why people get fat.
There is a saying that goes:
Diet is Kilos - Exercise is Gram
What the saying does not mention is that the metabolic rate overrules it. Metabolism is the difference that make the difference.
Now, Robert Lustig has some powerful arguments when it comes to the sugar debate, and I think the article overlooked the role lack of fiber and mineral deficiency in food contributes to the general health status in people. But In general I do agree with the assessment proposed.
