Treatment
Dr. Pam Popper's comment on the nutrition professor who ate twinkies and junk food and lost 27 pounds.
"I am not surprised that this article generated a lot of inquiries; it is precisely this type of information that confuses the public. The story that has caught everyone's attention involves Mark Haub, a professor of human nutrition at Kansas State University, who ate Hostess cakes, Doritos, sugary cereals and cookies for two months, and through calorie restriction managed to lose 27 pounds. He sought to prove that the number of calories consumed mattered most, not the nutritional value of the food.
In addition to weight loss, Haub's BMI dropped from 28.8 to 24.9; his LDL cholesterol dropped 20%, his HDL cholesterol increased 20%, and his triglycerides dropped 39%. His body fat dropped from 33.4% to 24.9%.
These results are not as exciting as they may seem, however. Cholesterol, triglycerides, and body fat all drop when weight is lost, regardless of the method used. People consuming an Atkins-style diet lose weight and their cholesterol goes down too. But short-term changes in biomarkers are often not related to long term health outcomes. Additionally, there is scant evidence to support the idea that cardiac health is improved by increasing HDL, or "good" cholesterol.
Haub stated in numerous articles covering his experiment that he used to eat a diet comprised of fruit, vegetables and meat, and that once he started adding meat back into his diet his cholesterol immediately increased. This is an important part of the story; Haub was able to relate his cholesterol levels directly to the consumption of animal foods.
I think Haub could have found something more constructive to do with his time, but aside from that, there is a silver lining in this cloud. Millions of dollars are spent on research looking for genetic factors that cause obesity; and for drugs, single nutrients, and foods that can solve the obesity epidemic. As misguided as Haub's experiment is, it does show that calories count, and that calorie reduction results in weight loss. We can stop looking for genetic culprits and magic bullet solutions.
The key to healthy weight loss is to reduce calories through a well-structured plant-based diet that is high in fiber and low in fat and calories. For every 14 grams of fiber consumed, calorie intake is reduced by about 10%. With 12 grams of fiber in the daily diet, you'll feel full at 2000 calories; increase to 26 grams of fiber and it will only take 1800 calories. At 40 grams of fiber daily, the average person will feel full at 1620 calories. By increasing fiber intake, weight loss will take place without hunger, deprivation or willpower."
"I am not surprised that this article generated a lot of inquiries; it is precisely this type of information that confuses the public. The story that has caught everyone's attention involves Mark Haub, a professor of human nutrition at Kansas State University, who ate Hostess cakes, Doritos, sugary cereals and cookies for two months, and through calorie restriction managed to lose 27 pounds. He sought to prove that the number of calories consumed mattered most, not the nutritional value of the food.
In addition to weight loss, Haub's BMI dropped from 28.8 to 24.9; his LDL cholesterol dropped 20%, his HDL cholesterol increased 20%, and his triglycerides dropped 39%. His body fat dropped from 33.4% to 24.9%.
These results are not as exciting as they may seem, however. Cholesterol, triglycerides, and body fat all drop when weight is lost, regardless of the method used. People consuming an Atkins-style diet lose weight and their cholesterol goes down too. But short-term changes in biomarkers are often not related to long term health outcomes. Additionally, there is scant evidence to support the idea that cardiac health is improved by increasing HDL, or "good" cholesterol.
Haub stated in numerous articles covering his experiment that he used to eat a diet comprised of fruit, vegetables and meat, and that once he started adding meat back into his diet his cholesterol immediately increased. This is an important part of the story; Haub was able to relate his cholesterol levels directly to the consumption of animal foods.
I think Haub could have found something more constructive to do with his time, but aside from that, there is a silver lining in this cloud. Millions of dollars are spent on research looking for genetic factors that cause obesity; and for drugs, single nutrients, and foods that can solve the obesity epidemic. As misguided as Haub's experiment is, it does show that calories count, and that calorie reduction results in weight loss. We can stop looking for genetic culprits and magic bullet solutions.
The key to healthy weight loss is to reduce calories through a well-structured plant-based diet that is high in fiber and low in fat and calories. For every 14 grams of fiber consumed, calorie intake is reduced by about 10%. With 12 grams of fiber in the daily diet, you'll feel full at 2000 calories; increase to 26 grams of fiber and it will only take 1800 calories. At 40 grams of fiber daily, the average person will feel full at 1620 calories. By increasing fiber intake, weight loss will take place without hunger, deprivation or willpower."