Last week I ran across these three articles from The American Journal of Preventive Medicine on Marion Nestle’s What to Eat blog.
The articles are an editorial calling for a higher standards of evidence for dietary guidelines, followed by a rebuttal (co-authored by Dr. Nestle), followed by a response to the rebuttal.
Editorial, A Call for Higher Standards of Evidence for Dietary Guidelines
Rebuttal, Do Dietary Guidelines Explain the Obesity Epidemic?
Dr. Nestle, by the way, mischaracterizes the editorial when she asks, on her blog, Do Dietary Guidelines Do More Harm Than Good? The editorial itself does not recommend doing away with guidelines, instead suggesting that scientists and public policy makers need to do a better job having their ducks in a row before issuing blanket statments.
I talk too much. I want to practice my listening skills. Readers, if you are so inclined, take a look at the editorial, the rebuttal, and the response, and let me know what you think. The total number of pages is 11, and there isn’t much scientific jargon - a nice bit of reading for your lunch break or afternoon train ride.
Migraine aura picture from 
I have ceased caring what the government recommends that I eat and that goes for the media, too. I also don’t care if most doctors have an opinion about it. I quit listening to them all. If I like it and it doesn’t make me feel bad, I’ll eat it. That’s as restrictive as I can afford to be now that my metabolism is f&%$ed from years of listening.
Comment by nonegiven — January 28, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
Dr. Briffa does a good summary of these reports at:
http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2008/01/25/scientists-claim-that-conventional-healthy-eating-messages-may-be-doing-more-harm-than-good/
Fascinating stuff.
PS - I don’t think you talk too much!
Bev
Comment by Bev Carney — January 28, 2008 @ 2:39 pm