[ExI] Food Guide Pyramid and dietary consensus [Was: Re: Hal Lewis' resignation from The American Physical Society]

[Max More]

Yes, there has been a substantial increase in the proportion of 
calories coming from carbohydrates, especially sugars and refined 
carbs. It's not clear whether the Food Guide caused this change, or 
merely accompanied it. But it seems that 90% of the increase in 
calories came from carbs, and carbs accounted for a growing 
proportion of total calories starting around the late 1970s or early 
1980s. At the same time, also in accordance with official guidelines, 
the percentage of diet accounted for by fat declined. Yet obesity 
rose rapidly. Apart from the cites in Taube's book, you can see the 
same info here:

"Most of these extra calories came from an increase in carbohydrate 
consumption rather than fat consumption." 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity#cite_note-73

Max

> > I'm currently reading about the great flaws in another "consensus",
> > this one to do with the causes of obesity and diet-related health
> > issues: Gary Taubes, Good Calories, Bad Calories. One emblem of this
> > is the Government's official Food Guide Pyramid -- another damaging
> > area of flawed official position.
>
>I had no idea *anyone* paid attention to the pyramid.  When it came 
>out, or for that matter when the previous one came out, was there 
>any noticeable chance in what people ate?