Conflicting diet and nutrition messages may lead frustrated individuals to respond with “nutrition backlash,” according to health experts at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, Washington.
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“The more negative and confused people feel about dietary recommendations, the more likely they are to eat a fat-laden diet that skimps on fruits and vegetables,” said Ruth Patterson, lead author of the study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre.
The study was published this week in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. It follows years of often confusing news reports about findings on some foods. For example, scientists long have touted margarine as a healthier alternative to butter, but a study recently found that stick margarine can increase the risk of heart disease. Other research has questioned health claims for oats, eggs and wine.
“I am totally sympathetic to the American consumer’s state of confusion regarding what constitutes appropriate eating behaviour,” Linda Van Horn, professor of preventative medicine at Northwestern University Medical School, told The News Tribune of Tacoma. “It seems as if there are no truths or no clear answers to this question of what should I eat,” said Van Horn, who was not involved in the Fred Hutchinson study.
Patterson and her colleagues, funded by the National Cancer Institute, surveyed 1,751 Washington adults on their eating habits and attitudes toward food and nutrition guidelines.
Some findings:
- More than 40% said they were tired of hearing about what foods they should or shouldn’t eat.
- About 40% agreed that dietary guidelines should be taken with a “grain of salt.”
- Some 25% said a low-fat diet takes the pleasure out of eating.
- 70% said the government shouldn’t tell people what to eat.
Patterson said researchers developed a “backlash” scale based on respondents’ negative or sceptical responses. Those who ranked highest on that scale also had the highest percentage of fat in their diets. The biggest nutrition sceptics were men age 18-35 and people over 60 years old, according to the study. Patterson said that Americans, on average, get about 34% of their calories from fat, while guidelines recommend no more than 30%.
Patterson said she fears the nutrition backlash could undermine efforts at nutrition education. But 90% of those surveyed said they believe nutrition research eventually will help them live longer lives. And about three-quarters said warning labels should be required on high-fat foods.
“In general, if you focus on minimally processed, fresh foods, go heavy on fruits and vegetables and light on fats and salt, I don’t really think you’re going to go wrong,” Patterson said.
