Just Cut the Fat

I turned on my analytical pathways as I was reading the Science Times section of Tuesday's New York Times when I saw this article. In her piece on a recently published set of studies from the Women's Health Initiative, Gina Kolata provides a synopsis of the findings, interviews the investigators and their critics, and gives some historical tidbits about the "you are what you eat," better health through diet movement that started in earnest in the Western world in the 19th century.

In a series of articles published in the Feb. 8 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the investigators of the Women's Health Initiative report a surprising finding that has already drawn extensive criticism. In short, the investigators find that reducing dietary fat intake to currently recommended levels (approximately 30% of daily caloric intake) offers no protection against breast cancer, colorectal cancer or heart disease.

This study looked at a large population of older women and asked whether dietary changes could prevent them from developing specific diseases that in prior studies had been linked to dietary fat intake. To me, the nature of these diseases -- cardiovascular disease and cancer -- makes them somewhat unsuitable for such an analysis. These are diseases that often develop over many years, so even a relatively long-term study (average 8.1 years in the study) may be unable to show any benefit. Instead of looking at these data and concluding that fat intake is unimportant, I would instead hypothesize that changing dietary fat intake at a younger age, or more drastically reducing fat intake in later years, is imperative for improving health.

Colorectal cancer, breast cancer and heart disease have a much higher incidence in Western cultures. This could be explained by environmental factors like diet and sedentary lifestyle. It could also be the result of pollutants. Genetic factors may also be involved. Even in the Western world, certain racial groups are more likely to be afflicted with heart disease. Of course, these racial groups also tend to be disadvantaged and less likely to seek out (or be able to afford) preventative care. There's environment rearing its head again. So what is the right answer? Can we eat ourselves healthy? Or should we just eat what we want and let the chips fall where they may based on our genetic makeup?

It's important to remember that science is an evolutionary process. We chip away at the data, trying to excavate the truth lying underneath. Sometimes we hit veins of pure gold; more often we hit pyrite. Can we stay alive forever by eliminating fat from our diets? Unlikely. Are there centegenarians who have eaten and continue to eat bacon and eggs every morning of their lives? Probably. Not knowing the absolute truth, however, is no excuse to ignore our own common sense. The best any of us can do is eat sensibly, get some exercise a few days a week, and face up to the fact that we're all mortals and will one day face the grim reaper.

But now, if you'll excuse me, I have to run to McDonald's to pick up an Egg McMuffin and some Hash Browns. Oh, and maybe I should grab some Krispy Kremes on the way . . .