Diet and Fat: A Severe Case of Mistaken Consensus

Where very right and very wrong co-exist.

Right:

"...doctors take their cues from others, leading them to overdiagnose some faddish ailments (called bandwagon diseases) and overprescribe certain treatments (like the tonsillectomies once popular for children). Unable to keep up with the volume of research, doctors look for guidance from an expert — or at least someone who sounds confident."

Hence the deadly diet advice, useless drugs and the malpractice known as bariatric surgery, including child mutilation.

Wrong:

"Mr. Taubes argues that the low-fat recommendations, besides being unjustified, may well have harmed Americans by encouraging them to switch to carbohydrates, which he believes cause obesity and disease."

Hence the grossly mistaken "understanding" of the issue and just plain deadly stupid approaches to weight loss.

One thing and one thing only causes overweight, obesity and their disease sequelae, more Calories in than out.

Nothing else.