A Big FAT Lie

Ten Lemmings Leaping is one too many. Read this before the 10th day of Christmas - guaranteed to make your New Year better.

In this interview, Gary Taubes, science writer and author of Good Calories, Bad Calories, declares his interest in "this problem of establishing reliable knowledge about the universe and how easy it is to get the wrong answer." The subject of this particular investigation is the cause of obesity and the commitment of many to the dogma of sloth and gluttony. Speaking in terms of deadly sins makes it sound harsh, but that is exactly what is being said when "they" say obesity is caused by sedentary behavior and over-eating. Somehow sedentary behaviour doesn't carry quite the same punch as sloth. Taubes turns this whole holier-than-thou thing on its head - simply by looking at the evidence and realizing it does not support the sloth/gluttony hypothesis. He claims that, rather than being as simple as energy in must be less than energy out, changes in energy will result in behavioral and metabolic changes sensitive to the overall change in energy. In other words, if energy intake is decreased, energy output will also decrease. The same holds true for increases. According to this hypothesis, over-eating and sedentary behaviour do not cause obesity, but rather result from it.

Taubes says "one thing dogmas do very well is perpetuate themselves, not through any explicit conspiracies, but because so many people are so invested in one point of view that they will always, when given the chance, act in a way that supports that view." This, of course, is not science. One might question whence such investment comes and why it creates such resistance to change, but few would argue that such dogma touches almost every human endeavour. There comes a time, in every person's life, when dogma must be challenged if one wishes for more than following the herd. And when the herd is a pack of lemmings leaping toward their demise, pausing for thought and considering a different path is not such a bad idea.

Taubes challenges the current nutritional orthodoxy based on mountains of historical evidence, clear scientific principles, and emerging research. He makes it clear that the way to combat obesity is not a low-fat diet or attempting to shame the slothful into more exercise, but rather understanding the hormonal consequences of the foods we eat. Put simply, carbohydrates, particularly white sugar and white flour, cause insulin to promote fat storage and inhibit the metabolism of fat for fuel. This is indeed a complex interplay of nature and nurture, but complex problems often require simple solutions. Ironically, those accused of gluttony are actually under-nourished, but their hormonal milieu is not favorable for losing fat. Bottom line: if you want to be leaner and healthier, stop racing for the cliff and eat fewer carbs.

Hear more from Taubes here or watch his webcast for a fascinating look at unconventional wisdom. It is a smarter conversation we need to have...desperately. Don't be a lemming.