That Twinkie Diet Story

By now, most of the LC community has read about this professor who lost 27 lbs eating mostly twinkies and other junk food.  http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

This DOES prove that a caloric deficit, consistently maintained, WILL result in weight (and fat) loss.  What else did it prove?   There can be no doubt, really, that when a caloric deficit is achieved and maintained, weight/fat will be lost.  This doesn't "diss" low carb in any way.  For most people, low carb diets make doing so easier (less hunger) with larger spontaneous caloric deficits.  Don't knock that!!

What I think surprised many is the improvements in his bloodwork given the likelihood of a poor O6/O3 ratio, transfats, refined carbs, etc.  Which just goes to show a few things.  Firstly, I know I've read somewhere that a person's LDL level is largely correlated with their weight status.  For me, this has been the case in my life.  He lost >10% of his initial body weight.  Reasonable carb consumption, even refined crappy carbs, does not cause insulin to run amok accumulating fat.  At 1800 calories/day, even though he consumed a lot of carbs, they weren't in EXCESS, hence the drop in triglycerides.  Lastly, the lipid derangement seems to be the result of fat stores that are "full up"  and/or someone who is in chronic positive energy balance.   Reverse that, see improvements.

Beyond that, what does this tell us?  Not much.  But it does also demonstrate that NO food, in and of itself, can be labeled "fattening".   Control portions and you can eat just about anything and stay slim (truly healthy is another story).  But many of these foods are, IMO, "fattening", because eaten ad libitum we'll likely consume too much of them.  Take the Doritos for example.  A package from the vending machine can only do so much "harm".  Opening up a big bag and noshing on them mindlessly watching football, etc., will get you in trouble.  I note the prof made sure to get his protein in with a daily protein shake.  This probably kept him from protein-seeking hunger that likely plagues those eating junky diets causing them to overeat.

One of the commenters on another blog snarked at a Nutrition prof needing to lose 27 lbs.  There are a couple of low carb diet doctor gurus who needed to devise a six week plan to lose weight too.  ;-)  Sorry, couldn't h'ep myself there.  Seriously, though, the world is full of experts and professionals that clearly do not have healthy lifestyles despite knowing what they probably should be doing.  Does that make what they "know" wrong?   I don't think so.   The LC community is not without its fair share of purists in theory, but obviously not so pure in practice.  I'm not condemning these people, just pointing out that what's good for the goose is good for the gander in this regard.  If we're looking for advice/knowledge of what makes for a truly healthy lifestyle it sure helps for the messenger to look like they are walking the talk, but we can't always dismiss a message just because the messenger isn't able to do so.