Thumbs up review, “The Obesity Epidemic: What caused it? How can we stop it?”
Where does the formula “1 pound equals 3500 calories” come from? Zoe Harcombe checked with all the major British organizations including the British Dietetic Association. The best answer, or worst depending on how one perceives this topic, was, “We don’t know.” Some of the other questions one sees in a list towards the beginning of the book are: Does energy in equal energy out? Does the law of thermodynamics apply to humans? Can you prove saturated fat causes heart disease? How does exercise relate to weight loss or gain?
When dealing with weight loss the public is bombarded by misinformation concerning calories which are a measurement of energy. According to Harcombe when you see the statement, “energy in equals energy out” you are getting a misapplication of the laws of thermodynamics. The first law doesn’t state energy in must equal energy out; it states that energy in a closed system is neither created nor destroyed.
The calorie theory, i.e., counting calories for weight control, was tested in the Minnesota Starvation Experiment. Thirty six healthy men participated in the study, with the goal being to reduce their weight by 25% in 24 weeks. A control period was utilized to figure how many calories were needed to maintain weight at a specific activity level. During the starvation period of the experiment, while trying to maintain the specified activity level, the participant’s diets were cut by 1640 calories. At this point the weight loss didn’t meet the researcher’s goal, so the participant’s calories were cut even further. According to the “Gold Standard Formula” promoted by so many so-called experts, “1 pound equals 3500 calories”, each participant should have lost 78 pounds; by week 20 all reached a plateau, and the average weight lost was 37 pounds.
Once the men were allowed to eat, they couldn’t get enough. Even when they were stuffed, the men still complained of hunger. None of the men had eating disorders prior to the experiment; it was clear according to the Minnesota Starvation Experiment, that no one can tolerate calorie deprivation over an extended period of time.
The people who do research as generalist/specialists in the area of obesity (Barry Groves, Gary Taubes, Sally Fallon Morell are the forerunners) have all come to the same conclusion – we must eat real food and not processed food. Man is the only chronically sick species on the planet and the only one eating his own food. (I would add that we have also given our pets obesity, diabetes and other modern illness, by feeding them our processed junk ). “Eat food as nature intends us to eat it” is surely classic common sense – but government, dietitians and doctors tell us instead to “Base our meals on starchy foods” and they have developed the Eatbadly Plate (I refuse to call it Eatwell), which could not be more different to what we have evolved to eat. (Do take a look at this plate and see for yourself sugar, cornflakes, weetabix, white flour, bagels, white pasta, sugared baked beans, fruit in syrup, Battenberg cake, sweets, coca-cola and so on. No wonder Kellogg’s sponsor the British Dietetic Association obesity conference!)
“The Obesity Epidemic” has a very simple message; everything you think you know about eating right and weight loss, is way off the mark. With a mound of references to support her well stated arguments, Zoe expounds the truth while dissecting the dietary BS promulgated by industry, health agencies, doctors and dieticians. There is no doubt that the world is experiencing an obesity epidemic and it’s a shame that money not evidence based research is guiding our behavior. Anyone interested in the correct natural way to a healthy body, needs to read this book.
Posted in: Book Reviews, Diets, Food preparation, Foods products, Nutrition, Weight Loss, Xternal Fitness, Xternal Furci
Tags: carbohydrates and obesity, causes of obesity, children and obesity, fast food and obesity, Fructose and obesity, Headlines, http://www.zoeharcombe.com/, main causes of obesity, Obesity, Obesity and cardiovascular disease, Obesity epidemic, obesity health problems, research on obesity, The Obesity Epidemic, The Obesity Epidemic: What caused it? How can we stop it?, www.zoeharcombe.com
While I’m a woman (obviously) I’ve had a rather interesting result with a diabetes drug called, “Victoza.” It’s an injectable and I was totally shocked at how it eliminated my hungry craving. I mean, I literally stopped thinking about food. That gave me the liberty to eat good things (it gave me a craving for water and any fruit/veggies high in water). Because the hunger was gone, I was able to focus on eating right without problems and exercising. Lost 30 lbs. in a month.
@ Cindy – congrats on the weight loss but it doesn’t mean you’re healthy on the inside.
Diabetes is cause by one thing and it is all self-induced, sugar from carbohydrates. It was published in their own journals years ago but no one read them.
What are the side effects of the drug? You can satisfy the cravings and lose weight and control the appetite with what the body needs and that is a correct form of Parent Omega 6’s and parent Omega 3’s in the correct ratio. No fish oil and no derivatives.
It is night and day what happens when you give the body what it needs.
Glucose [sugar from carbohydrates] causes diabetes! Diabetes 2001; 50:1683-1690
Humans can’t utilize fructose [sugar] from more than 2 pieces of fruit at a time. Basic Medical Biochemistry – A Clinical Approach, pg. 404
Eating carbohydrate SLOWS METABOLISM; fat and protein digestion increase metabolism . Textbook of Medical Physiology, pg. 908