Consumers are Drowning in a Sea of Bad Nutrition Information

America is in the grips of an obesity crisis yet we seem to be going backwards when it comes to how to talk about and treat this epidemic

This article from guest authors Dr. Kristina Carman and Dr. Yusuf JP Saleeby was drafted in response to an opinion piece in Real Clear Health, which argued that blaming food for obesity is like blaming water for drowning. We offered our response for publication in Real Clear Health but had no answer from them.

America is in the grips of an obesity crisis. Over the last three decades, the overweight share of the population has risen so much that nearly three in every four people are now considered overweight or obese.

Yet, we seem to be going backwards when it comes to how to talk about, let alone treat, this epidemic. As sales of weight loss drugs soar, we cannot even seem to agree on the basics of what causes the problem.

Case in point: a recent Op-ed by researcher Edward Archer, who frequently writes in support of sugar consumption. His latest article is part of a long line of work arguing against what he calls ‘diet centrism.’ Essentially, he challenges the idea that the foods we eat and beverages we drink can lead to poor health, obesity, and a string of cardiometabolic diseases.  

He is wrong in so many ways.

Firstly, Archer argues that metabolic differences, rather than dietary habits, predominantly drive obesity and related diseases. He posits that highly processed foods have been a consistent part of human diets for millennia, without historic rises in metabolic diseases. He thereby suggests that the problem lies not in what we eat, but in the individual way our bodies respond. 

However, extensive research contradicts the notion that diet is irrelevant. Studies consistently show that processed foods, which lack essential nutrients but are rich in fats, sugars, and salts, contribute significantly to obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and more. 

For example, a new study just published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity finds that consumption of a Western diet high in processed foods, saturated fat, and simple sugars early in life leads to long-lasting memory deficits that persist even after a healthy diet is introduced in adulthood. 

Further, processed foods often contain unnecessary additives, colors, heavy metals, and other harmful ingredients that can have long-term health risks. These additives are often aimed at prolonging shelf life, enhancing texture, or boosting flavor and while they undoubtedly make food more enticing and convenient, their consumption comes with potential health repercussions. For instance, certain preservatives have been linked to allergic reactions and even cancer. Research suggests that artificial colors may contribute to behavioral issues in children, such as hyperactivity. 

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and hybridization technologies, employed to improve crop durability and yield, can potentially lead to antibiotic resistance or trigger allergic reactions and impact the nutritional content of whole foods, resulting in the depletion of certain beneficial plant compounds. 

Then there is the fact that heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and mercury often turn up in processed foods. These are extremely harmful to health, especially for children and pregnant women, as they can affect brain development and cause other serious health issues. Recent testing of a popular breakfast cereal from General Mills — Trix Loaded — found levels of arsenic and cadmium that were 200-400% higher than the EPA allows in drinking water. This in addition to high levels of aluminum, as well as the herbicide glyphosate — which has been shown to cause sex hormone changes and organ damage in animals. Yet General Mills cheerfully announces on its packaging that the product contains 12 vitamins and minerals and is a “good source of calcium.”

This kind of labeling is rightly confusing for consumers, along with conflicting dietary guidance and scare-mongering headlines that push patently false information. The nutritional ignorance of most mainstream health professionals makes things worse. Modern medical schools spend minimal time on nutrition, leaving physicians ill-equipped to provide dietary advice and thus perpetuating poor health outcomes. Additionally, the food industry, influenced by immense profits, continues to push products that prioritize shelf-life and palatability over nutritional value, influencing dietary guidelines and consumer choices detrimentally.

While we agree that challenging the status quo — as Archer claims to do — is a necessary part of scientific progress, it must not come at the cost of ignoring well-substantiated research that highlights the dangers of poor dietary habits. 

The increasing dependence on, and glorification of, processed foods is a growing concern with considerable hazards that impact individuals and also contribute to broader public health issues. As practitioners of honest medicine, we owe it to our patients to throw them a lifeline when they’re drowning in a sea of bad information.

Dr. Yusuf JP Saleeby is medical director of Carolina Holistic Medicine and a clinical professor of functional medicine and bioethics. Dr. Kristina Carman is a naturopathic doctor and nutritional therapist. Both serve as clinical advisors to the FLCCC Alliance.