In July I read an article by Gary Taubes in the New York Times magazine that got me started on a low carb way of eating. I read a few more books, including Atkins' revised book, got on an informative and lively discussion board and talked it over with a couple of trusted friends. I have lost about ten pounds in a couple of months. This is not a lot, but is still encouraging because I believe the loss is due to a change in general habits and not the result of some unnatural imposition of drugs, potions or will power.
The following is taken from a popular blog, Rebecca's Pocket and presents a variety of informed views on the subject. Go to her site for live links to all her sources.
From Rebecca's archive: .
:: On July 7, the New York Times published What if It's All Been a Big Fat Lie? by Gary Taubes, which made the startling claim that the long recommended low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet is causing our current obesity epidemic, and that the fat-friendly, low-carbohydrate Atkins Diet, long dismissed by the medical establishment, is sound.
The WSJ Opinion Journal followed fast on its heels with a piece by anthropology professor Lionel Tiger which outlined the controversy and suggested that a meat-based diet might, with moderation, be more attuned to human physiology than one that is grain-based.
In August, the Washington Post published a close examination of the NYT article, seeking to balance Taube's claims against the science his article claims to refute.
It's a terrific article, shedding light both on the research Taube rejected and his reasons for rejecting it, enabling the reader to assess the quality of Taube's journalism. It's also a lucid reminder of just how 'constructed' reportage really is.
With many readers newly confused about the benefits and hazards of low-fat and high-fat eating, we decided to take a hard look at Taubes's arguments and examine the broader record of dietary re-search that he is accused of ignoring or downplaying. We interviewed more than three dozen experts in the field -- many of them the same people Taubes spoke with -- and reviewed the scientific literature. We also spoke to Taubes himself for several hours and reviewed with him some of the research that he used. [...]
Despite the uproar, even some of Taubes's sharpest critics found merit in the story -- for example, for describing the role that corn sweeteners in soft drinks may play in the obesity epidemic and for forcing scientists to address unanswered questions on fat. 'The good part is that Taubes has stimulated discussion,' said James O. Hill, director of the Clinical Nutrition Research Unit at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. 'The bad part is that once again the poor public is confused.'
The WP article also notes that Taube received a $700,000 book deal as a result of his provocative piece.
The American Council On Science And Health rebutted the idea that type of diet determines either health or obesity, pointing out that American activity is in a decline, and that even incremental differences add up.
The activity trends in this country seem to have been pointing down for the last several decades. And that's not just because of more TVs and computer games, though certainly these play a role. All sorts of subtle changes in society contribute to our diminishing exertion. Those of us over a certain age can even recall when driving a car took more physical energy than it does today. Remember trying to parallel park a car without power steering? Or having to actually move the seat manually without a power-assist?
Finally, on September 9, the estimable Nutrition News put it all in perspective:
The cavemen argument doesn't mean eating a lot of lean meat. It really means tracking that animal for a day before you kill it and butcher it. Few of us are willing to live that way, so we need to adapt our behaviors to the modern world. Want air conditioning, your own car, and electrical appli-ances? Then you need to find other ways to burn calories on a regular basis. This may be an ugly proposition to many, but it is the only one that works.
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