It’s not a bash at all on ideas. Go back and reread the post.

I think so if the person following such has no health problems except for obesity and uses a modified version including one protein meal per day and at least 1000 kcal or so per day of intake.

At the time, I believe it was physician monitored. Apparently, sometime before the encounter with Dr. Eades 15 years later, it became a self-monitored program.

The real question is this: why did a formerly strong proponent of a successful low-carb approach change his nutritional views in the interceding 35 years?

He indeed was one of the early pioneers of the PSMF. Why he went south on the whole idea, I haven’t a clue. Maybe because he got caught up in the herd mentality of academia.

They haven’t published any low-carb papers yet. This is the first issue.

I do not think this is optimal, but how many times have you read this story… “Back in 2003, I lost XX lbs of weight on a low carb diet. I felt great, life was great. Then X changed. I slipped. Now I am back, having realized the error of my ways, and I have regained all XX lbs I lost, and got YY pounds in interest.” Clearly, the problem with changing your diet isn’t in the diet itself. It’s in the lifetime commitment phase. Alli/low fat might not be the BEST solution, from a dietary standpoint, but it should be effective as a weight loss tool, and should see low rates in recidivism, thus addressing the “lifetime commitment” phase.

@Michael Richards: Internet tone is as much in the eye of the reader as in the fingers of the author. My suggestions about hard commitments may seem condescending to you. Your comments to me may seem condescending. That speaks as much about us as readers as it does about us as authors. My point is this: a lot of people find it very difficult to make firm, lifetime commitments to dietary changes that would be good for them. And by a lot, the numbers are on my side. 95% of people who lose significant weight gain it back (sourcing in Taubes, Good Calories, Bad Calories). Many people also seek a quick and easy solution. At least in the States. And in Italy as well. Huge market for weight loss supplements, diet books, hollywood miracle diets, tummy tucks and other cosmetic weight loss surgeries, etc. Billions with a B. So, clearly, I’m not out of line, in my experience, suggesting that people want it gone faster. So, you and I both know this is flawed thinking. Weight loss/health improvement is a time intensive activity. So, if you know fact a: people want it badly, fact b: people want it quickly, and fact c: most people will be disappointed, largely due to long term commitment issues, the clear consultant solution is that you have to do something about the commitment aspect.

The consultant solution might strike you as condescending. I can’t help that. I can offer you the non-apology of “I’m sorry you feel that way.” I would look at it more as a little cold, but solutions oriented.

All statements in support of bariatric surgery and Alli do not supersede low carb living as the optimal healthful diet. My statements do not even preclude people from eating low carb. The point is that, for people who aren’t gonna get the “religion” or the science or the culinary challenge, or whatever it is that makes long term low carb adherents stay adherent, bar surgery and Alli might provide the hard commitment they would need to control their weights and move on down the actuarial table. In a package that presents as a quick fix at first, but winds up as a hard commitment. If that’s a poor view of people, fine. I’ll take the Oscar for lines like, “I see nothing worth liking in these people.” It’s not true, but if that’s how you feel, there are worse things.

Seems like Alli is pretty much OPPOSITE of the correct tool for weight loss, at least if you actually believe that PP is based on sound science. Why would you put obese individuals on a drug that prevents them from eating a scientifically sound weight loss diet?

Whatever. The point was this: people are not contemptible. They do try. Your tone was not exactly respectful to all those people struggling to lose weight.

BTW, I DO live in a glass house with a nice view, thank you very much. That view is currently obscured by much-needed rain.

Michael Richards

I didn’t say it was about move more, eat less. I said nothing of the sort. I said that dieting is a soft commitment. People make make it firm, but you can always quit the diet, stop the exercise, etc, without relative pain.

I said that Bariatric surgery and Alli (no idea what label they sell it under in NSW, if it’s even sold there) are hard commitments. They make it very costly to quit, in psychic or real cost, time, and health consequences.

There is nothing about people being “lazy idiots.” Or anything of the sort. You have misconstrued me, twisted my meaning (without actually talking to anything I said), and in effect, built argument, not rebuttal.

I would refer you to your parting shot. I believe you are living in a glass house AND throwing stones.

I’m sorry, but I don’t subscribe to the theory that the general public are lazy idiots. You will find (check out Sandy Swarzc’s blog http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/ for the details) that far from everyone being lazier and not trying, the studies are time and again coming up with the finding that people are exercising a lot more than before and that they’re really trying to lose weight — but with ineffective advice. I’m afraid I don’t have the time to come up with the relevant posts (am posting this from work, naughty boy that I am), and leave that exercise for the reader.

Here in New South Wales, the finding has been that children are far more active than before, in spite of TV, games consoles and My Space. Such is the case with my own children who spend hours playing Assassin’s Creed and whatever else is the latest (I can’t keep up). But my youngest also does gymnastics (or “tricking” as they call it), Rugby League, BMX tricks and trampoline. My eldest does Shore Patrol at a local beach (“Wiggles Bay” for those of you who have young children), races boats with his friends, BMX stuff, skate boarding, etc. He recently completed his Bronze Medallion, for which he had to learn first aid and prove he could swim 200 m in 5 minutes or less.

Even your humble correspondent swims 2 km a week (two sessions) and often runs along the local beaches like Mona Vale and Palm Beach (runs of 5 km or more). Lots of locals also do it. And I know all my neighbours and they’re not slobs. Yes, I know that we live in a beautiful part of the world. (See http://www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/ for a view of Palm Beach)

Where you make the mistake, I feel, is that you are confusing motivation with credibility of source of information. For most people doctors are credible sources of information and when they say that that stomach’s got to be stapled, then, by jingo the patient believes them and undergoes the procedure. If a doc says that Alii is the go, then people go for it.

What makes this whole Blackburn incident so distressing is that someone so “credible” is advocating something so dangerous.

Trust me, people are not pathetic. They are real. A snobby, snooty attitude is demeaning to the holder and not to the people being held in contempt.

Michael Richards