“No presenter argued that humans collectively lost willpower around the 1980s, when obesity rates took off, first in high-income countries, then in much of the rest of the world. Not a single scientist said our genes changed in that short time.”
Funnily enough, the first official US government recommendations that the entire population e…
“No presenter argued that humans collectively lost willpower around the 1980s, when obesity rates took off, first in high-income countries, then in much of the rest of the world. Not a single scientist said our genes changed in that short time.”
Funnily enough, the first official US government recommendations that the entire population eat a diet low in saturated fat (which means, by default, increasing carbohydrate consumption) were published in 1980. You’re correct in that nothing has changed with respect to our physiology or psychology (willpower) but we have been subjected to a population wide dietary intervention with little to no thought to long term effects. Wonder where we’ve heard that in the last couple of years......
The recommendations of the 1990s really were a detriment to my health. I ate tons of bread and pasta (we could have 11 servings?), and thought Snapple and NutriGrain bars were healthy. Processed soy in veggie burgers were preferable to meat. A muffin a quarter of the size of my head with blueberries in it was a good breakfast, certainly better than a doughnut (and served in school, no less). I started out my reproductive life poorly with too many years of irregular periods, acne, a bloated stomach...It probably will affect me for life. We really need to be careful about the medical "advice" we're given.
Totally agree. The low fat - high carb diet is a major factor in this, of that I am certain. Over that time frame I put on an extra fifty pounds which no amount of activity and willpower was able to remove until about 2012 when I decided the high carbs had to go. I've been back down to a reasonable weight ever since. With the weight I was being told I needed to be on both statins and blood pressure medicine; since then my blood pressure tends toward low and cholesterol isn't alarming anymore. But eating low carbs is difficult. Try to find simple things that aren't loaded with corn syrup or other sweeteners. Catsup, spaghetti sauce, soup, salad dressing, peanut butter, and on and on. Look at balsamic vinegar!
The primary problem, dear friends, in contrast to the emphasis on the fat content in our diets in the 1980s, is the processed carbohydrates in our diets. The misadventures related to changing fats in our diet are quite dramatic and instructive.
“No presenter argued that humans collectively lost willpower around the 1980s, when obesity rates took off, first in high-income countries, then in much of the rest of the world. Not a single scientist said our genes changed in that short time.”
Funnily enough, the first official US government recommendations that the entire population eat a diet low in saturated fat (which means, by default, increasing carbohydrate consumption) were published in 1980. You’re correct in that nothing has changed with respect to our physiology or psychology (willpower) but we have been subjected to a population wide dietary intervention with little to no thought to long term effects. Wonder where we’ve heard that in the last couple of years......
The recommendations of the 1990s really were a detriment to my health. I ate tons of bread and pasta (we could have 11 servings?), and thought Snapple and NutriGrain bars were healthy. Processed soy in veggie burgers were preferable to meat. A muffin a quarter of the size of my head with blueberries in it was a good breakfast, certainly better than a doughnut (and served in school, no less). I started out my reproductive life poorly with too many years of irregular periods, acne, a bloated stomach...It probably will affect me for life. We really need to be careful about the medical "advice" we're given.
Totally agree. The low fat - high carb diet is a major factor in this, of that I am certain. Over that time frame I put on an extra fifty pounds which no amount of activity and willpower was able to remove until about 2012 when I decided the high carbs had to go. I've been back down to a reasonable weight ever since. With the weight I was being told I needed to be on both statins and blood pressure medicine; since then my blood pressure tends toward low and cholesterol isn't alarming anymore. But eating low carbs is difficult. Try to find simple things that aren't loaded with corn syrup or other sweeteners. Catsup, spaghetti sauce, soup, salad dressing, peanut butter, and on and on. Look at balsamic vinegar!
For those who don't already knew him, The Ethical Skeptic has written a fantastic essay on this subject.
https://theethicalskeptic.com/2022/07/09/the-worthless-human-lie-of-the-diet-cartel/
"The Worthless Human" Lie of the Diet Cartel
Look, we had to do something right away. We moved at the speed of science.
Be kind.
The primary problem, dear friends, in contrast to the emphasis on the fat content in our diets in the 1980s, is the processed carbohydrates in our diets. The misadventures related to changing fats in our diet are quite dramatic and instructive.
Yep. This is pretty much the entire problem- process carbs and sugars in hundreds of food items that didn't have them before.
If you're eating any process foods at all, you can't keep up.
In the early 1600's the average sugar intake in England was near zero.
In the early 1800's the average was around 18 pounds.
In the USA the current average is around 57 pounds.
Our bodies aren't optimally designed to eat so much sugar.