Obesity News: Food Experts At War Over New Diet Advice, Is Eating More Fat Healthy Or Not?

For a long time, fat has been seen as evil. Eating full fat is unhealthy and all of us are advised to get rid of it or keep it at a minimum. However, a recent report said that it's not true. Now, food experts are in a battle whether full fat is healthy or not.

Eating Fat Lowers Chances Of Obesity

In general, we are advised to follow low fat diets to lower our cholesterol but a new report suggests that a low-fat diet is not effective in addressing the obesity crisis. There needs to be a major overhaul of the current dietary guideline and we should return to "whole foods."

Professor David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity forum learned that low-fat diet is flawed. "As a clinician, treating patients all day every day, I quickly realised that guidelines from on high, suggesting high-carbohydrate, low-fat diets were the universal panacea, were deeply flawed," Daily Mail reported.

The report says per Independent that "Eating a diet rich in full-fat dairy—such as cheese, milk and yoghurt —can actually lower the chance of obesity." It also suggests that a diet low in refined carbohydrates but high in healthy fats is an "an effective and safe approach for preventing weight gain and aiding weight loss." It also lowers your risk of heart disease.

Dr. Aseem Malhotra, consultant cardiologist also believes that promoting low-fat foods is the "biggest mistake in the modern medical history." He said that eating fat can help one slim down and it is high time to bring back the fat. Professor Iain Broom also believes that recommending high carbohydrate and low fat, low-calorie diet is "fatally flawed."

Other Experts Argue About Fat's Health Benefits

Meanwhile, another group of experts believes that fat is not healthy, Express reported. "In the face of all the evidence, calling for people to eat more fat, cut out carbs and ignore calories is irresponsible," said Dr. Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE. "Unlike this opinion piece, our independent experts review all the available evidence - often thousands of scientific papers - run full-scale consultations and go to great lengths to ensure no bias."

Professor John Wass also explained that there is enough evidence showing that saturated fat increases one's cholesterol. He is calling out for a balanced diet and regular physical activity, instead.

Meanwhile, Professor Simon Capewell questioned that the validity of the report from the National Obesity Forum claiming that it was not peer-reviewed and does not indicate who wrote it or how it was funded.

"This report is full of ideas and opinion, however, it does not offer the robust and comprehensive review of evidence that would be required for the BHF, as the UK's largest heart research charity, to take it seriously," Dr. Mike Knapton added.

What do you think, is full fat healthy or not? Should we eat more fat or not? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.