Why You Can’t Trust the Weight Loss Advice of a Dietitian

April 19 2013 by in Big Soda, Calorie Counting, Crazy ways to lose weight, Lobbyism

Here’s a photo from a symposium for dietitians. It is not a joke.

This is why you can’t trust weight loss advice from a dietitian. He or she may have been trained by The Coca Cola Company. The largest professional association of dietitians in America have sold out to the junk food industry, as previously reported.

If you ask a dietitian for weight loss advice you’ll probably just be told to eat less calories. You can keep eating junk food once in a while and even drink soda, as long as you count the calories. This is exactly what the Coca Cola Company wants you to believe.

The truth is that this advice only suits masochists who enjoy being hungry forever. If you want to lose weight without hunger there is a better way to do it.

Is Your Dietitian Educated by The Coca Cola Company?

How American Dietitians Sold Out to Coca Cola and Pepsi

PS: There are of course plenty of smart dietitians too. The photo above is from the Facebook page of Dietitians for Professional Integrity. If you’re a dietitian and want to feel proud of your profession I recommend you support them.

45 Comments

Top Comments

Andy Bellatti, MS, RD
April 19 2013 14
Hello, I am Andy Bellatti, the creator -- and of the co-founders -- of Dietitians for Professional Integrity. Thank you for supporting our efforts and spreading the word about our work. I appreciate you calling out this ridiculousness and simultaneously pointing out that this sort of unethical sponsorship does not represent all RDs.

Read more →
Reply to comment #5 by Ondrej
Galina L.
April 19 2013 8
People try to sell every diet you can imagine, and deciding you can't trust a LC approach because it is available for sale, doesn't make sense. Most people use completely free web-sites and library books for diet inspirations.
I don't think a personal diet approach should be based on a trust. Before LCarbing, I followed an anty-inflammatory diet plan designed by a well respected Dr.Weill and it worsened my health and made me fatter (the plan required limiting animal proteins and fats, increasing whole grains , fruits and veggies).

Read more →

All Comments

1
Deb
April 19 2013 8
Im studying to be a dietician, I promise I won't do that :)
2
Margaret
April 19 2013
Masochists! I love it. :)
3
Janet Mitchell
April 19 2013
How am I not surprised!
4
shums
April 19 2013
I can actually understand why the soda industry wants to sponsor things like this. Super large companies like coke or pepsi are very concerned with image and with good reason. Image can mean millions to them. I honestly don't think soda companies want their products image to be one that only obese people use it. If that were the image of coke I can bet their sales would take a dive. It is that negative association. So I think they do things like this to appear healthy but I also think they would like to combat obesity. I just think they feel their products can be enjoyed and we can all be thin too. That isn't far from what dieticians themselves teach actually. Everything in moderation right? Of course it is totally misguided and the way to real health for anyone is a lower carb diet based on real foods. This just makes me wonder who the real guilty party is there. Is it coke sponsoring dieticians or dieticians who would probably say it is fine to have sugary soda as long as you don't over do it. Perhaps it is that opinion that even makes coke feel they can sponsor something like this.

Many companies sell products that are bad for us. It is up to us to be responsible. A LCHF diet is a way to get there that actually works.
5
Ondrej
April 19 2013 1
Low Carb has become a masive business with books, certification courses, blogs...therefore I don't trust Low Carb Company, thanks for advice. Contrary to this belief, most doctors don't sell books and protein powders or "primal fuel" and have no hidden agenda. Their advice is boring, but effective. Most people don't need to control calories or limit foods.

Reply: #9
6
Julian
April 19 2013 8
Everything in moderation applies to real food, it does not apply to processed food and additives like sugar . That would like saying smoke cigarettes in moderation. Dietitians shouldn't be saying it and the reason they are saying it is that their associations have sold out to big sugar.
7
Andy Bellatti, MS, RD
April 19 2013 14
Hello, I am Andy Bellatti, the creator -- and of the co-founders -- of Dietitians for Professional Integrity. Thank you for supporting our efforts and spreading the word about our work. I appreciate you calling out this ridiculousness and simultaneously pointing out that this sort of unethical sponsorship does not represent all RDs.
8
Mats LCHF Wiman
April 19 2013
A super illustration of today's health care system!!
Reply to comment #5 by Ondrej
9
Galina L.
April 19 2013 8
People try to sell every diet you can imagine, and deciding you can't trust a LC approach because it is available for sale, doesn't make sense. Most people use completely free web-sites and library books for diet inspirations.
I don't think a personal diet approach should be based on a trust. Before LCarbing, I followed an anty-inflammatory diet plan designed by a well respected Dr.Weill and it worsened my health and made me fatter (the plan required limiting animal proteins and fats, increasing whole grains , fruits and veggies).
10
Zepp
April 19 2013 1
Its funny.. I cant ever think of that this could happen in Sweden.. not whit there logo printed on the poster!
11
Eddie Mitchell
April 19 2013 4
Reading this excellent blog today, I found several articles showing how dietitions and medical professionals, are being turned into shills for the Coca-Cola company. Was I surprised, not in the least ! Big pharma and junk food outfits have a grip on just about every organisation involved in health advice in the UK. One neat trick is call yourself a charity, of make your organisations name sound like a Government Institution. Big pharma and junk food spends $billions every year on their propaganda, far too many healthcare professionals have either swallowed the lies hook, line and sinker, or are on the payroll. Meanwhile, we have to rely on a relatively small (but growing) number of honest and informed HCP’s and bloggers. A David versus Goliath situation for sure. Check out these black OP’s outfits and their pay masters.

DUK The diabetes charity.

Abbott Bayer Boehringer Ingelheim Bristol Myers Squibb Bupa Bunzl Everyclick First Capital Connect Flora pro.activ Kodak Lilly Lloyds Pharmacy Menarini Merck Serono Morphy Richards Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited Novartis Novo Nordisk Nursing Times PAL Technologies Ltd Pfizer Rowlands Pharmacies Sanofi-aventis SplendaTakeda Tesco Diets

HEART UK -The Nation’s Cholesterol Charity

Abbott Healthcare Alpro UK AstraZeneca BHR Pharma Cambridge Weight Plan Cereal Partners UK (Sh Wheat) Food & Drink Federation Fresenius Medical Care (UK) Limited Genzyme Therapeutics Hovis Kellogg’s (Optivita) Kowa Pharmaceutical Europe Co Limited L.IN.C Medical Systems Limited Merck Sharpe & Dhome PlanMyFood Pfizer Premier Foods Progenika Biopharma s.a. Roche Products Limited Unilever (Flora) Welch’s (Purple Grape Juice)

The British Nutrition Foundation

However, the organisation's 39 members, which contribute to its funding, include – beside the Government, the EU – Cadbury, Kellogg's, Northern Foods, McDonald's, PizzaExpress, the main supermarket chains except Tesco, and producer bodies such as the Potato Council. The chairman of its board of trustees, Paul Hebblethwaite, is also chairman of the Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionery Trade Association.

The European Food Information Council

Current EUFIC members are: AB Sugar, Ajinomoto Sweeteners Europe, Bunge, Cargill, Cereal Partners, Coca-Cola, Danone, DSM Nutritional Products Europe Ltd., Ferrero, Kraft Foods, Mars, McDonald's, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Pfizer Animal Health, Südzucker, and Unilever.

The British Heart Foundation

Unilever Flora margarine.
12
Michelle
April 19 2013
Wow Eddie, that is some reading. I am going to copy and paste this, if I may and show everyone I know.
13
Eddie Mitchell
April 19 2013
Hi Michelle

For what it may be worth, feel free to use anything I write, as you see fit.

Check out our blog http://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.co.uk/

Kind regards Eddie
14
Lars
April 19 2013
"This is why you can’t trust weight loss advice from a dietitian. He or she may have been trained by The Coca Cola Company"

There is a fault in your argument, first you a making a logical fallacy (Hasty generalization) assuming that all RD are influenced by Coca Cola?

Secondly you assume that all RD are giving bad information to there clients just because they are sponsored by Coca Cola?

Using your own logic then you can’t trust a doctor (MD) for advice on medicin because he/she often is partly sponsored by big pharma, and is often attending symposium for doctors sponsored by big pharma.

"If you ask a dietitian for weight loss advice you’ll probably just be told to eat less calories. You can keep eating junk food once in a while and even drink soda, as long as you count the calories. This is exactly what the Coca Cola Company wants you to believe.

The truth is that this advice only suits masochists who enjoy being hungry forever. If you want to lose weight without hunger there is a better way to do it."

Again another Hasty generalization and a sort of a straw man argument where you assume that all RD give that advice, and that it is wrong

Reply: #23
15
Eddie Mitchell
April 19 2013 3
"Using your own logic then you can’t trust a doctor (MD) for advice on medicin because he/she often is partly sponsored by big pharma, and is often attending symposium for doctors sponsored by big pharma."

So often the case ! Most MD's know nothing about a healthy diet.

Check out Hope Warshaw a typical dietition on the big pharma payroll.

"Old Dogma: People with type 2 diabetes should follow a low carbohydrate diet.
New Reality: Nutrition recommendations for people with type 2 diabetes from the American Diabetes Association and other health authorities echo the recently unveiled U.S. 2010 Dietary Guidelines (1/31/11) for carbohydrate : about 45 to 65 percent of calories. (Americans currently eat about 45 to 50 percent of calories as carbohydrate--not a "high carb" intake.)"

http://diabeteshealth.com/read/2011/06/28/7199/type-2-diabetes-from-o...
16
MargaretRC
April 20 2013 5
@Eddie Mitchell, I love your blog and your site as well. I'm always recommending it to people looking for good information on diabetes and low carb diets. Please keep it up. You, too Doctor Eenfeldt. @Lars, maybe all RD don't give that advice, but to date, the majority do. Check out the websites for the American Dietetic Association and the one for the American Diabetes Association. It's all "low carb diets are dangerous", "eat plenty of whole grains" and "if you want to lose weight, eat less and move more." Sorry, the Doc is right. The dietitians that give out good advice are few and far between and they usually take abuse for going "against the grain", so to speak. Coca Cola isn't going to sponsor an organization that tells people not to drink their products and people who get money from Coca Cola are not likely to tell people not to drink their stuff. I believe you're right about many doctors, too and I am very careful what advice I take from a doctor. They are paid to push statins and other drugs and those that aren't paid to push the drugs still get most or all of their information from the drug companies. Does that mean I don't go to a doctor when I'm sick? No. I do. Does that mean when my doctor tells me I have to take a drug for the rest of my life I automatically listen to him and do it? No. I don't.
17
EatMoveSleep
April 20 2013
@MargretRC
The rare times I'm sick I DON'T go to a MD.
If sick i just need bed rest ( what is a MD going to do for me?)
If I had the flu - how will a MD help?
I'm not going pay and wait for him to just say I'm sick when i already know that and if I ignore most of his advice and drug scripts then why even bother to pay and wait to listen to it?
Though I'm lucky as I'm healthy, I take care of myself and very rarely get sick.
Unfortunately I have to see one if I want bloods checked as I cant go straight to the test labs without a MD script - not that the MD adds any value to the process or interpretation of results.
18
Eddie Mitchell
April 20 2013 1
Hi Margaret thank you for the kind words and thank you for recommending our blog and website.

I know I am stating the obvious, but it seems to me, most people become interested in lowcarb, for the weight loss benefits. It is a fact there are many more overweight people than there are diabetics, let’s hope it stays that way. A diabetic going lowcarb 50 carbs a day or less, has a huge incentive to stay lowcarb. Less medication, for many type two diabetics nil medication, to hold stable non diabetic blood glucose numbers.

The over weight non diabetic may wait weeks, or even months to see a substantial reduction in weight, the diabetic sees a massive change in their fight to reduce the risk of blindness, limb amputation and kidney failure, in a matter of a few days. Very high and very dangerous BG numbers, are very often reduced to non diabetic in less than a week. This is very important, because many type two diabetes medications are close to useless, expensive, and many banned for killing and maiming people. Actos and Avandia two well known examples. The benefit of weight loss is of secondary importance for most type two diabetics. Weight loss is still an important issue for around 80% of type two’s because excessive weight brings about insulin resistance for many.

So, the type two has great incentives to go and stay lowcarb, what about the non diabetic over weight person. Many people believe, including some medical professionals that a diabetic runs high BG numbers because of a lack of insulin. This is true for some diabetics such as type one’s. It comes as a great surprise to many, when I tell them at diagnosis, a heavily overweight diabetic can be running plasma insulin levels of three times higher than a slim non diabetic.

Insulin is often referred to by biochemists as the fat building hormone. In fact, the body cannot make body fat without insulin. It is very unusual to find an overweight individual who doesn’t also have elevated insulin levels. Insulin also inhibits the body’s use of stored fat as a source of fuel. Lowering insulin levels is extremely important, perhaps essential, for weight loss to succeed. This is one reason why low carb diets are particularly successful in weight loss since the fewer the carbs, the less insulin is required. Some may also find that they consume fewer calories without feeling hungry, because their fat metabolism begins to work properly once more, allowing the body access to energy reserves in fat stores which were previously inaccessible.

So, if you are a non diabetic, but heavily overweight, the last thing you need is to be awash with excess insulin. Insulin has a measurable impact on blood vessels by narrowing them, with increased cardiovascular risks. Insulin has often been called the aging hormone. Not enough is bad, too much is also bad. I am sure most people who visit this site know, carbohydrates have a large impact on blood glucose levels, protein much less, and fats have little if any effect. The $64000 question is, if you have not been diagnosed as a diabetic, do you know what your BG numbers are ? Most do not. I would recommend if you are heavily over weight or type two diabetes runs in your family, invest around £10 in a BG meter. It will come with ten test strips. Check your BG one and two hours after a typical meal, you may not be happy with the BG numbers you see, but you will know where you stand.

I once asked a medical professional, why don’t you BG test every over weight person or people that have type two diabetes running through their family’s. She replied the cost would be astronomical. I said the cost of a test strip won’t break the NHS. She replied you are right, but we would find so many diabetics the system could not cope ! Meanwhile most dietitions and healthcare professionals, are telling not only diabetics, but also non diabetics, to base their meals on starchy carbs. Welcome to the crazy world of dietitions.
19
FrankG
April 20 2013 1
Eddie... no doubt you are correct about the high plasma levels of insulin in a recently diagnosed (often overweight/obese) Type 2 Diabetic but I also understand that at that same time of diagnosis, many of these people are also running with up to 50-80% LESS insulin-secreting capacity than an healthy person. Yet another reason to avoid the advice given; which usually revolves around including the "normal" amounts of carbohydrates in what we are advised to eat. Why continue to overtax a system that is already failing.. would you advise a person with a repetitive stress injury to keep doing the same thing?

I was diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome, including Type 2 Diabetes, back in 2003 and I only wish that LCHF had been discussed even just as an alternative at that point.... instead I dutifully followed the standard mainstream advice and was in due course facing a shortened and painful life with a chronic progressive disease. Thankfully that has now all turned around for me.

I think it is important to stress that the LCHF approach is NOT just about managing excess fat mass but is also about improved overall health :-)

---

On your final point you may like to check out Jenny Ruhl's Blood Sugar 101 site -- if you have not already done so... this section is titled "Misdiagnosis By Design - The Story Behind the ADA Diagnostic Criteria" http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14046782.php

http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/index.php
20
FrankG
April 20 2013
Just to add that the high plasma levels of insulin at diagnosis, make sense if you consider the concurrent high levels of Insulin Resistance (IR) for which high levels of insulin are required just to maintain the normal Blood Glucose (BG) balance and all the other functions which insulin provides -- of course what tends to happen just before diagnosis is that the insulin secretion capacity (beta cells in the pancreas) can no longer keep up with this massive demand and the BG starts to rise significantly.

High levels of insulin cause or worsen IR in a vicious cycle, as the cell's insulin-receptors down-regulate to try and cope with the higher levels of stimulation.

The obvious immediate solution (you'd think) would be to dramatically cut back on what drives up the BG and insulin levels (that would be carbs) to give the system a chance to recover. Unfortunately that is rarely the advice given :-( Too often medication is used; some types of which are designed to stimulate the beta cells to work even harder to make even more insulin just so people can continue to eat "normally"!

This also highlights the need for early diagnosis -- while there is still recoverable beta cell function and before irreversible damage has been done to many other body systems (eyes, heart, kidneys etc...). I frequently use the analogy that: it is far easier to lower the water pressure and shore up a dam BEFORE it has burst.
21
Eddie Mitchell
April 20 2013 2
Hi Frank

“I also understand that at that same time of diagnosis, many of these people are also running with up to 50-80% LESS insulin-secreting capacity than an healthy person.” I have read several papers and books that reckon that for most type two diabetics around 50% beta cell destruction is the norm, of course it varies from individual to individual. All the more reason to get on the case as swiftly as possible. I see it this way, a man can live a long and active life with one kidney or one lung, the same applies to a damaged pancreas, if you give these organs the best possible chance. I have met type two non insulin diabetics, that can hold good BG numbers on 150 or more carbs per day, unfortunately that does not last long. I think the Jenny Rule site is one of the best around, but I went over as per your first link and this stuck out to me as not best advise and totally wrong.

“But diabetes is different. Diabetes is only easy to diagnose after many years of elevated blood sugars have caused blindness or kidney failure.

I know or know of many type two diabetics, and none have suffered blindness or kidney failure. Indeed, some have reversed early signs of diabetic complications.

One other interesting point. I read recently that beta cells that die after the age of thirty are not replaced. This got thinking, what about the very young who are now being diagnosed with type two diabetes. Would the right method of diabetes control save them, and they could genuinely cure their diabetes. This will not happen with a high carb low fat multi drug regime.

Kind regards Eddie
22
Low Carber
April 21 2013
Yo! Im currently studying really hard for entrance exams to become either dentist, MD or registered dietitian. I live in Finland and I am "carb avare" so to say. I lost almost 40 kilos couple of years back with strict LCHF and got my health back, mental stability and all sorts of rash, joint pains and so on went away. My health care nurse told me "great job, but you did it wrong" and offered me a pamflet saying how to add healthy whole grains back to my diet. I refused. Now my question is, how can I ever pass my school if I am already against the system? Am I supposed to just go with the flow, get my licences or be against everything and fail miserably?

Reply: #24
Reply to comment #14 by Lars
23
Dr. Andreas EenfeldtDr. Andreas Eenfeldt, M.D.Dr. Andreas Eenfeldt is a Swedish medical doctor specialized in family medicine. He now runs the fast-growing health site DietDoctor.com as the founder and owner, together with 16 co-workers.
April 21 2013 3

"This is why you can’t trust weight loss advice from a dietitian. He or she may have been trained by The Coca Cola Company"

There is a fault in your argument, first you a making a logical fallacy (Hasty generalization) assuming that all RD are influenced by Coca Cola?

No. You missed the word "may".

"If you ask a dietitian for weight loss advice you’ll probably just be told to eat less calories..."

Again another Hasty generalization and a sort of a straw man argument where you assume that all RD give that advice, and that it is wrong

Again you forgot to read one word: "probably".
Reply to comment #22 by Low Carber
24
Zepp
April 21 2013
No problems.. studies is to read/listen and understand conventional wisdom/knowledge.. and have an open mind!

And to get an examina is to show that one have understand what you have been learned!

One shouldnt underestimate conventional knowledge.. its in this knowledge base one have to work.. and make a differens!!
25
Deb
April 21 2013 1
Eddie, my husband has been low carb to control type two diabetes for over two years, his health is excellent and he absolutely does not "need" carbs to control his blood sugars - in fact his blood sugars are very stable
he's on about 60g of carb a day or less, he finds if he goes over 100g or binges he feels really unwell so he rarely cheats
i also have a friend who after seeing how well my husband did decided to try low carb - she has been a type 1 diabetic for over 20 years, she's now on the minimum amount of insulin and has lost over 30kgs, she says she's hasnt been this healthy in years
26
June
April 21 2013
Emotional eating will sabotage a LCHF diet every time.
27
Eddie Mitchell
April 21 2013
Hi Deb always great to hear good news, here is some more good news.

After the largest manhunt in history, conducted by detectives from the FBI to Interpol, assisted by intelligence operatives from MI5 to Mossad, an informed and clued up dietition has been found. At a press conference today FBI Special Agent Jimmy (Popeye) Doyle stated "we never really thought we would find a dietition that knew what they were talking about. The hunt to find a dietition not on the payroll of big pharma or junk food outfits was thought to be a lost cause, but this find justifies the years of work and $billions spent" Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE was left stunned, when Doyle informed her how long the search had taken. Seriously folks check out this great site. A taster.

Eddie

"While doing research for my ADA low-carb article, I read many studies on carb restriction for diabetes and weight management, but I didn't consider the beneficial effects of ketosis. At the time, I was still consuming close to 100 net grams of carbs a day and wasn't ready to try anything as extreme as a ketogenic diet. But after having looked into the research on VLCKDs and experiencing their effects first hand, I'd like to see more obese and otherwise metabolically challenged people try them. Improved lipid profiles, slowing down of the aging process, and improvements in mood and cognition are just a few of the potential benefits attributed to ketogenic diets, along with weight loss and blood glucose control. In addition to the studies, I've read countless online accounts of how ketosis has changed people's lives for the better. And I plan to continue eating this way indefinitely unless I develop problems, at which point I would make adjustments as needed. That's how I got here in the first place, after all.

Now, as enthusiastic as I am about VLCKDs, do I realistically think that all dietitians, nurses, doctors, and other health professionals will come on board in the near future? Probably not, considering most of them think ketosis is unhealthy and that we need at least 130 grams (and preferably a lot more) of carbs at a minimum to support the needs of the central nervous system. But I am cautiously optimistic that the tide is starting to turn as practitioners begin to look at the research and listen to their patients' accounts of success -- or perhaps even test their own postprandial blood sugars. Carb restriction may not be appropriate in every case, but I defy anyone to objectively look at the evidence and deny how beneficial it's been for so many, especially those who have struggled with weight and blood sugar issues for years."

http://www.lowcarbdietitian.com/1/category/ketogenic%20diets/1.html
28
Zepp
April 21 2013 3
Heres an English ofspring of the Swedish LCHF revolution!

http://lowcarbhealthyfat.com/

Its spreading.. slowly, but spreading anyhow.. and its a revolution from the bottom!
29
JAUS
April 22 2013
I recommend yacon syrup. It's sugar free and doesn't raise blood sugar. It is an excellent replacement for liquid sugars like: honey, maple syrup and agave syrup.

Yacon syrup is expensive though so only use it when a liquid sweetener is necessary (on low carb pancakes, in glazes and sauces etc).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yacon_syrup

Reply: #30
Reply to comment #29 by JAUS
30
JAUS
April 22 2013
#29 Sorry posted that in the wrong topic.
31
Mike Roberts
April 22 2013
Let's hope this opens more peoples eyes! Food Politics is another great resource which was a real eye opener for me!
32
Eddie Mitchell
April 22 2013
With well over 200 million diabetics in the world the treatment costs run to billions of pounds per year. When numbers of this size are involved inevitably large commercial considerations influence opinion. The dietary information given to diabetics has been deeply flawed for a long time. For decades best advice has been based on the American so called food pyramid. This is basically a high carbohydrate low fat diet. It was believed by scientists and health professionals this diet would promote a healthy life style and reduce many of the increasing health problems such as heart attacks, stroke and obesity. During the time it has been adopted it has not worked. Heart disease and stroke cases have increased, obesity and its linked type 2 diabetes has increased to epidemic proportions. How could this situation have come about. Politics and commercial interests.

The book called The Politics of Food was written over twenty years ago and highlights the extremely cosy relationship between Members of Parliament and the food industry. It was staggering to learn, that in 1987, when the sugar industry was coming under attack, no less than 64 MP’s were involved in the promotion of the sugar industry and its high sugar using customers. Michael Shersby M. P. was not only the Chairman of the Conservative backbench committee on food and drink, he was also the Director-General of the Sugar Bureau.

It is also a fact many experts advising the government on food have to sign the official secrets act. When a scientist queried this and stated "I have to sign the official secrets act to advise on a sausage" he was informed it had to be done because companies wanted to protect their trade secrets. I expect an analytical chemist could tell you exactly what's in a Walls pork without too much trouble.

Over the last forty years or so many of the large trials and studies on food and diet have been sponsored by large food companies and their associated trade bodies and conglomerations. As you would expect, findings and results have been heavily biased towards commercial interests and considerations. Would a large international company spend huge sums of money so that the end result would be to rubbish their own products ?

Upon diagnosis, the NHS often issue a 24 page booklet called "Diabetes A Practical Guide For Patients" The booklet is supported by Takeda, the largest manufacturer of insulin in Japan. The diet information is the usual eat plenty of carbs with every meal recommendation. Lots of high carbohydrate food is the last thing we diabetics need. Would a manufacturer of insulin have an interest in recommending low carbohydrate diets. Clearly the more people low carb. the less insulin they require. Would an insulin manufacturer, sponsor a book that promoted a low carbohydrate diet for diabetics, and therefore lose sales and revenue ?
33
Patricia J
April 24 2013
I believe that there could be a part of where dieticians are sponsored by companies but I don't think this applied to all. Just saying. because if they depend their advices on the company that sponsors them, they might end up losing their job.
34
Julia Mathew
April 26 2013
It can be really hard especially for dietitians-dependent individuals to chew what you just said, but the fact that you posted is also inevitable. Thanks for taking this courageous step to reveal the real points behind the consultations. This should really be a good reference to many.
35
Sarah Newman
May 3 2013
This is nothing new big pharma have been doing this to medicine for decades. People need to start using their common sense and begin questioning - even if its an authority figure - rather than following blindly along.

Love that photo. Seen another one recently, it was a large fast food chain telling us how to diet healthily - go figure.
36
Eddie Mitchell
May 3 2013
Lowcarbing is the only way to safely, and cost effectively control diabetes in the long term. Never once in five years, has anyone, from medical professionals, to long term diabetic lowcarb antis, ever informed me of a better way. Meanwhile billions of pounds per year are wasted, diabetics go blind, have limbs amputated and suffer total kidney failure. Brought about so often by greed and total stupidity. Brought about by corrupt Politicians, Doctors being bribed by pharma companies, and junk food companies who have infiltrated almost every food and diet advisory outfit. Most dietitions, who over the years have elevated themselves to the rank of “healthcare professionals” are either clueless or have been corrupted by the propaganda outfits, or are so gutless they will spout anything that keeps them in a job. I am grateful I don’t have to kill people to earn a living. I am so very grateful for the few (but growing number) of Doctors who still remember why they joined the profession, to heal people, to save lives, to stand tall, to be worthy of the highest respect, rather than become a paid assassin.

Eddie
37
Alvin@lose weight without counting calories
May 6 2013
Hey, I have been a fat loss coach and I keep fit myself too. I DO drink these soda once in a long while, so I think if you were to take junk foods once in a long while, it is perfectly fine and you can still maintain a lean figure. I believe it is when you are cutting down/losing weight vs. maintaining that you should cut out 99% of junk foods
38
Eddie Mitchell
May 6 2013
Hi Alvin

What you say makes a lot of sense, but I think many people fail to understand how addicted some people are to junk foods. I know people who have controlled their weight and diabetes very well. But they are so addicted to some foods that do them no favours, they daren’t go back even occasionally. It’s like being an alcoholic. One drink leads to ……You get the picture.

Regards Eddie
39
David P
May 9 2013
I met the dietician at my university and she just about condemned my lifestyle to how I eat HFLC saying "it is a fad diet" and "it is bad for your health." I said "I lost weight and I no longer have health issues!" She said "that isn't possible!!" So I gave lots and lots of sources and she responds "that is all biased opinion and we dieticians like to follow what other dieticians recommend."
40
Francis
May 16 2013
My mother was a dietician. From first hand experience I can tell you that the advice (in the best case) is USDA, government approved, official, bought and directed, lobby nonsense. The information is based on the same agenda that established the four necessary food groups years ago. All children are taught to eat red meat and dairy products as the top two choices. If you had to guess, what two lobby groups demanded that FDR establish the USDA and create the the list? (Hint: think the American Cattleman's Association and the American Dairyman's Association). Case closed.
41
MS, RD, LD
October 15 2013
You're website is misguided. You group all dietitians together! Please check your facts! I agree that there are a lot of misguided dietitians as well as doctors. I for one am not misguided. I don't have a hidden agenda. My intentions are to improve the health of people who want the help. I think one of the main problems with health is soda and processed foods. Garbage in my opinion. Fresh and non processed foods are the way to go. However when you teach people this. Their first excuse is always. Eating healthy is expensive. I can't quit soda.

I have never told anyone to drink soda. The first nutrition advice I give is on eliminating soda and other beverages that contain empty calories. My recommendations for carbohydrates are neigther extremly low or high. They are balanced and focus on whole foods, non processed.

I'm Proud to be a Dietitian and I'm a damn good one!
42
Erin RD, CD
January 4 2014
I had to laugh out loud to this. Just because there is a sign with Coca-Cola on it, you assume that all dietitians are involved with this company and preach to follow a low carb diet and eat less calories? What a poor assumption. Clearly whoever booked this symposium has some sort of partnership with Coca-Cola, but not all registered dietitians were in attendance, were they?

The people who are telling you to "eat less and you will lose weight, it's that simple" or "just cut out carbs" clearly have a different agenda and are likely making some big bucks to say that--yes actually this may be a lot of government programs--there I said it! But do you know that most the government programs are ran by DOCTORS and not dietitians? Yes--the doctors are the ones making all these crazy guidelines for calories and carbs that must be followed. I used to work in a position that was based on government guidelines and left because I didn't believe in the ridiculous doctor driven guidelines being forced on people. For example; the government wanted to replace all 1% and regular skim milk in schools with milk that contained artificial sweeteners. Like skim milk is the cause of childhood obesity?! Please! Check it out yourself on the government website and you will see thousands of other registered dietitians' responses to ridiculous proposals like these from government guidelines developed by doctors.

My specialty is actually weight loss and I have my own business writing weight loss plans and work with several cross fit gyms in my city. I NEVER tell my clients to count calories or eat a low carb diet to lose weight. My professional advice to lose weight is you have to EAT CLEAN--cut out processed junk foods and eat a well balanced meal of complex carbs, healthy fats and protein.

The funniest thing about this is that while you group the dietitians together as being poor advocates for nutrition, have you turned on the TV and watched an episode of "Dr. Oz" lately? All that man does is try to sell the latest fad diet--garcinia cambogia anyone?? I actually worked at a bariatric center for 2 years and while I educated patients on eating clean, the DOCTOR was actually the one who would preach that "to lose weight all you have to do is keep a food journal of every calorie you eat, cut out carbs and make sure you do the math and check your percentage of carbs, protein and fat at the end of the day." What a joke.

So sir, please do not make poor assumptions. Yes, you saw an oxymoron sign at a convention, but less than 100 dietitians work for that company, and I presume that less than 100 dietitians were in attendance there, so please don't throw the rest of us thousands of dietitians under the bus. We studied nutrition for 4+ years and obtained B.S., M.S., and Ph. D's in this field--no other profession can say that.
43
Charmaine
May 29 2015
HI EDDIE-- this seems semi backwards. hasn't the A Diabetes Assn ALWAYS said to eat high grains? WHEN WAS THE ADVICE THE OPPOSITE? Thanks

"Old Dogma: People with type 2 diabetes should follow a low carbohydrate diet.
New Reality: Nutrition recommendations for people with type 2 diabetes from the American Diabetes Association...for carbohydrate : about 45 to 65 percent of calories.
44
Frank
January 28
There are too many doctors doing the things that dieticians are supposed to do. The amount of courses MD's do in the food related world is nothing compared to what dieticians do for their degree. If a patient needs advice regarding diet, a good doctor will consult and, if needed, refer the patient to a RD. As with all jobs, please stick to your own expertise
45
MS, RD, LD
June 17
Im a MS, RD who works at a small practice eating disorder center, and I am constantly surprised and angered by the information put out there by dietitians regarding diet. There is constantly new information on weight. First off, obesity prevention is somewhat closed minded as we know 95% of people who try to lose weight can't, and actually gain more. Secondly, weight is closely controlled by the brain and genetic set point, and there is very little someone can do too "force" their body to lose weight, if their body doesn't want to lose weight in the first place. However, studies show that intuitive eating, or natural eating, methods are associated with long term weight maintenance, lower BMIs, better body image and self-esteem, and is not linked to the high risks of yo yo dieting, malnutrition, or binge/overeating. Intuitive eating prevents excess weight gain from the get go. Secondly, focusing on weight loss may result in caloric restriction, which always hurts more than it helps (hello low thyroid hormones, low metabolism, increased cortisol, increased appetite, increased fat synthesis and storage in the abdomen). Studies comparing normal weight, overweigh, and obese individuals found that NO MATTER THEIR WEIGHT, if they hate 5 fruits and veggies per day, moved 3 days per week (gardening and cleaning included), didn't smoke, and didn't exceed 1 alcohol per day in women, 2 for men- they were all at the lowest risk possible for morbidity and mortality. So in conclusion, overweight and obese people CAN BE as metabolically healthy as normal weight persons when they change their habits, whether or not they lose weight. And normal weight individuals without these habits are at just as much of an increased risk, despite appearing thinner.

Why You Can’t Trust the Weight Loss Advice of a Dietitian

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