“Everyone knows that eating a low-fat, low-calorie diet and getting regular exercise helps shed pounds.” Yep, that’s how this article on physorg.com begins.  REALLY, EVERYONE??  I just had to address today’s article with a quick response.  Because of the frequent occurrence of such unsubstantiated statements as “Everyone knows,” I’m sure we’ll have much more in the future about the negatives of low-fat diets and the benefits of including good, healthy fats in the diet, both for weight loss and for good health.

No, everyone does not know that a low-fat diet helps reduce weight or promote good health.  There’s lots of evidence, some recent and some much older, that a low-fat diet is not the answer to losing weight nor to any other health benefit, although it is important that the fats included in the diet are good, healthy, traditional fats.  Here are just a quick few references–from respected, well-researched books, articles, and websites–that prove not everyone knows now nor ever did:

Know Your Fats on The Weston A. Price Foundation website
Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes
Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
Why Butter is Better on the Dr. Mercola website
Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Dr. Weston A. Price

There are far too many articles that include statements like this, “Everyone knows,” without providing any references, backup, or proof that the statements are true.  Such statements are misleading, as clearly everyone does not agree, nor has everyone ever agreed with such statements.  Note that I am not opposed to the recommendation of including physical exercise in a good healthy lifestyle, but I am opposed to the statement that “everyone knows” that low-fat diets are beneficial and promote weight loss.