Now experts say we should eat more fat to combat obesity: Damning report calls for 'major overhaul' of dietary guidelines and advises people to stop counting calories

  • Report accuses public health bodies of colluding with food industry
  • It added that most of what we are told about healthy eating is wrong
  • Claimed that far from demonising fat, we should be eating more of it
  • Some experts said authors cherry picked evidence to suit argument

By Fiona Macrae for the Daily Mail

Published: 01:05, 23 May 2016 | Updated: 01:05, 23 May 2016

Cutting back on butter, cream, cheese and other fatty foods is fuelling the obesity epidemic with disastrous consequences for health, experts have warned.

In a damning report that accuses major public health bodies of colluding with the food industry, the National Obesity Forum and the Public Health Collaboration said most of what we are told about healthy eating is wrong.

Calling for a 'major overhaul' of dietary guidelines, it claimed that far from demonising fat, we should be eating more of it.

The report accuses major public health bodies of colluding with the food industry and said most of what we are told about healthy eating is wrong

The report accuses major public health bodies of colluding with the food industry and said most of what we are told about healthy eating is wrong

It also described sunflower oil as 'barely a food', advised people to stop counting calories and warned that exercising does not help with weight loss.

The controversial claims have been criticised by other experts who accused the report's authors of cherry picking evidence to suit their own arguments.

The row comes as Britain fights an obesity crisis. The UK is the second fattest country in Europe and obesity costs the economy up to £16billion a year. Type 2 diabetes rates are soaring, fuelled by obesity, and the condition uses up a tenth of the NHS's budget.

But the report's authors say the epidemic's roots lie in the modern-day obsession with low-fat diets. The report cites studies which show a higher-fat, lower-carb diet to be superior.

It states: 'Eating a diet rich in full-fat dairy – such as cheese, milk and yoghurt – can actually lower the chance of obesity.

'The most natural and nutritious foods available – meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, nuts, seeds, olives, avocados – all contain saturated fat.'

Co-author of the report, Aseem Malhotra, is a founding member of the Public Health Collaboration – a charity made up of dieticians, scientists and doctors

Co-author of the report, Aseem Malhotra, is a founding member of the Public Health Collaboration – a charity made up of dieticians, scientists and doctors

The report also argued that the science of food has been 'corrupted by commercial influences', with food industry representatives having a major influence on Public Health England's Eatwell Guide.

Co-author of the report, Aseem Malhotra, is a founding member of the Public Health Collaboration – a charity made up of dieticians, scientists and doctors.

He said promoting low-fat foods was 'perhaps the biggest mistake in modern medical history resulting in devastating consequences for public health'. The consultant cardiologist added: 'Eat fat to get slim, don't fear it, fat is your friend. It's now truly time to bring back the fat.'

But Professor Tom Sanders, of King's College London, said: 'The claim that eating fat doesn't make you fat is absurd. If you eat a lot of fat, you will get fat.' 

The report states that eating a diet rich in full-fat dairy – such as cheese, milk and yoghurt – can actually lower the chance of obesity

The report states that eating a diet rich in full-fat dairy – such as cheese, milk and yoghurt – can actually lower the chance of obesity

Comments (1)

Share what you think

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now