Atkins Diet is dangerous pseudo-science

[ciphergoth]

The Atkins Diet is a pile of dangerous pseudo-science. Not that this comes as a surprise, but here's the word from Dr Susan Jebb of the Medical Research Council's Human Nutrition Research Centre.

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Update: Post made friends-only. Thanks to babysimon for pointing out that vampwillow had invited people in atkins_uk to join the thread, resulting in some incredibly lunatic contributions. Update: Public again.

Comments

[vampwillow]

I was trying to consider options that have the *possibility* of being effective. In (a) I'd agree that there would be a probability of illegal fags (a probability trying to approach unity, I would think) and it would depend upon the level of action taken to prevent such import and distribution channels as may start (continue) to operate.

in (b) I'd very much agree with you, and a reason why if this approach were to be taken it would have to be very carefully controlled. Cigarettes only on prescription anyone?

(c) is an absolute agreement however, well, almost. The LDs at their Spring Conference in Manchester last year took a decision that they support reworking the legal implications of cannabis possession by individuals and, so long as it does not impose on any other non-consenting person I firmly believe every person around (over the age of majority - whatever that may be as appropriate) should have the freedom to do what they want within ethical limits. Smoking in public is becoming less acceptable (and illegal) in many places around the world, and iirc in some locations (CA?) even prohibited in private / personal residences. I think this might be going too far, although I can understand the reasoning.

The big issue, aiui, with smoking is the 'get them young' position. Generally, smokers start when they are young - in their teens. People rarely take up cigarettes for the first time if they are much out of their teens. Peer pressure and 'rebellion' are often given as causes for people starting to suck on cancer sticks.

If we could stop the kids (who shouldn't be in the pubs of course) starting to smoke in the first place they would be less likely to start when older and so we *would* cut down the level of smoking-related illness and, if this could be maintained for a period, then the 'introduction to smoking' youngsters get from slightly older kids would (or could) stop and we would have a healthier population and no smoking-at-one-remove by the rest of us.