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Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)
No, Virginia, The Latest Study Findings Do NOT Mean You Can Eat Like An NFL Lineman Without Consequences
Results of an eight-year study involving more than 48,000 women funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute caused a sensation recently. Much to the delight of dieters everywhere, the results appeared to cast doubt on the benefits of low-fat menus. First published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the report suggested that postmenopausal women who followed a low-fat regimen over a period of many years did not benefit from doing so, at least not in terms of lower disease rates for colon cancer or strokes. Many women (and men, though the study included only females) leaped to the conclusion that they could return to tastier, high-fat alternative foods with impunity. After all, did the study not prove once and for all that sacrifices made in choosing low-fat items made no difference health-wise?
Not so fast, Miss Tubby. That is not what the study proved, or even supported, as was clear once you read past the headlines. The initial reactions showed once again that sensationalized media summaries of scientific investigations rarely convey reliable accounts of work done. The consumer is always wise to look closely at how investigators and particularly other independent scientists, not reporters, interpret study findings. On that note, let's have a closer look at the NHLBI study.
Three key factors not emphasized in most news stories were 1) the women subjects were relatively healthy; and 2) the research focus was on reducing TOTAL fat, not trans or saturated fats commonly viewed as key variables in disease causation; and 3) the study subjects did not comply with the diets they were supposed to follow! Also, the women were not required or even encouraged to exercise or to restrict their total calories. Since most of those in the low-fat group did not comply with this regimen, the results are meaningless. If the women did not actually eat a low-fat diet, how could ANY conclusions about the value of such a regimen be possible? (For an analysis of the research, see "Low-Fat Diet Doesn't Reduce Diseases in Women," Wall Street Journal, February 8, 2006; Page D5.)
The above noted Wall Street Journal article contained a quote from one of the lead investigators. I found this remark amazing and preposterous. Here is what Ross Prentice, who happens to be a professor of biostatistics at the University of Washington, had to say about the consequences of the study: "It is possible that a longer period is needed before any positive impacts of a lower-fat diet would be found on cancer and cardiovascular diseases." Yeah, professor, that's possible and I suppose it's possible that you and your colleagues would not object to additional funding for more flawed research. However, unless you find a way to ensure that study subjects follow the guidelines and, in this case, comply with the low-fat requirements, more studies will not prove a thing. However, the muddled results combined with misleading headlines might tempt more women (and men) to continue munching on high-fat vittles, thinking that they might as well enjoy themselves, since it makes no difference to their health, one way or the other.
My advice is choose the low-fat options whenever possible, avoid the trans fats and saturated fats, exercise vigorously daily and practice a wellness lifestyle appropriate to your capabilities. Also, don't pay much attention to initial media reports about amazing study findings that go contrary to what has been well established. No Virginia, this latest study definitely does not in any way indicate you can pork out like an NFL lineman. For that matter, neither can NFL Linemen, at least not without adverse consequences.
Oh, here's one other piece of advice. Always look on the bright side of life.
Be well.
Domain: physicalSubdomain: nutrition
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