[extropy-chat] Failure of low-fat diet

[BillK]

On 2/22/06, Robin Hanson wrote:
>
> It was a surprise to many.  The diet was changed enough to have an effect,
> based on prior studies, and the effect was expected to work for overweight old
> women.    You sound like you feel sure you know that reducing alcohol would
> be good, but most studies say the opposite.
>
> If we did a study based on current advice, the complaint would be that the
> study didn't last long enough to see long term effects.  If we did a long term
> study based on current advice, by the time the study was done the advice
> would not be current.
>

This study did not know about good fats and bad fats, or the need for exercise.
The study group was already old and overweight and had increased risk
of heart trouble and cancer anyway..
The control group was not sufficiently distinct as they only achieved
about 70% of their planned goal to differentiate fat intake.

The overall fat content reduced by only 8.2% over the six year study.

So this group of higher risk individuals sat around on their fat arses
and ate six burgers a week instead of seven burgers, plus a bit more
fruit and veg.
(Slight exaggeration for effect).  ;)

I place no weight on this study at all.

BillK