Walter Willett: The Fallacy of Total Fat

What do you think is the most over-hyped dietary advice?

Walter C. Willett: By far the most over-hyped advice has been to reduce total fat in the diet. There was really never any good evidence that replacing fats with carbohydrate is beneficial, and it is now clear that we have good and bad fats and good and bad carbohydrates. Thus, if we reduce healthful unsaturated fats or increase refined starches and sugars, this can actually be harmful. The idea that fat calories, but not carbohydrate calories, make us fat was widely believed even by parts of the nutrition community, but it is now clear that too much of either will make us fat.

Health Advice Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for the general information of the reader and to help patients become better informed to consult with their own physician. It does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship, and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating… Read more >>