The 2015 U.S. Dietary Guidelines Report Criticized by the Experts

The U.S. Dietary guidelines greatly influence not only what Americans eat but also how much. It affects the information contained on the labels to the dietary advice given by doctors. The guidelines are updated every five years after a report is released from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. A new guideline is expected to be released this fall with the committee members emphasizing that it would include only the very best advice.

However, a new article that was published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) stated that the guidelines might be based on an incomplete survey of current findings and may be biased. The article written by food journalist Nina Teicholz revealed that the 2015 report used very weak scientific standards that could make the report vulnerable to survey bias, leading to incorrect guidelines and information.

Although the revelations made in the article won’t result in changes to the guideline, it may well spark a controversy about what constitutes a healthy diet.

The 2015 U.S. dietary guidelines are based on existing studies and research findings instead of conducting and original review. Moreover, according to Teicholz, author of “The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet”, the committee did not review important recent studies. The reviews that were examined included observational studies and clinical trials that showed conflicting results such as the link between heart disease and saturated fats.

Nutrition experts claim that the 2015 dietary guidelines are not clearly stated, or are overstated; the evidence that linked certain food items to heart complications. A professor of human sciences at Ohio State University, Jeff Volek, criticized the U.S. dietary guidelines saying that the findings of the report are erroneous and biased. For instance, he suggests that saturated fats are in no way associated with any heart complications or other health disorders. The professor says that the committee did not analyze some large findings on saturated fats and heart disease.

Volek says that the advice to replace saturated fat will do more harm to the public’s health than good as they may replace it with sugar or carbohydrates. This would increase the obesity rate and further increase the risk of diabetes. He, however, notes that the 2015 report did have some positive changes such as not offering advice to limit total fat.

U.S. Advisory committee Chairwoman’s Answer to Criticisms

Barbara Millen, the chairwoman of the latest U.S. advisory committee, told CNN that all of the criticisms against the report are baseless and incorrect. She said that the committee reviewed all the best studies on carbohydrates and saturated fat. The studies that were included in the report had to meet the strictest criteria and latest results. For instance, any study included in the report had to look at the effects over a sufficiently long period of time.

The chairwoman said that the committee reviewed only those existing research studies that included the most recent and relevant analysis. If the relevant study was not available, the advisory committee undertook its own research. So, the report reflects unbiased and true findings of the studies.