In it you say for a person having Total at 200 HDLs at 60 and Tris at 70 the LDL is calculated out at 126

Then you say if the Tris went to 300 the LDLs would calculate out lower

This is a fallacy because you are assuming the Total remains at 200
I contend if a persons Tris would jump to 300 then his Total would also increase due to his diet changes that caused the Tris to increase

That was a hypothetical example to show how the calculation tends to reward higher TG. If your TG went up to 300, something else would indeed likely change as well.

“Statistical analysis showed that when triglyceride is <100 mg/dl, calculated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL] is significantly overestimated (average :12.17 mg/dL or 0.31 mmol/L), whereas when triglyceride is between 150 and 300 mg/dL no significant difference between calculated and measured low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is observed."

Interesting stuff. I of course also hope Fat Head will be available on DVD in New Zealand soon, as well as around the world. Perhaps a few calls to video stores asking for it would make them pay attention.

First off, this blog is amazing, and so is your knowledge and dedication to this cause. But I had to write because I kinda know what that reviewer is talking about. You really do make it out like this all should be so obvious, but the crux of the weight issue is the carbs, to which the general public is still almost completely clueless about. (They, like I once did, would still probably think the Atikin’s diet is some sort of unnatural “trick” to lose weight). If you had asked those people which part of the meal was the worst for you or the most fattening, they probably would have mostly pointed to the meat in the burger. And indeed, if someone is trying to diet, that’s what they would most likely do- cut out the burger and just have the fries and soda, maybe with a salad and fruit and yogurt parfait too. If you asked someone what they thought of THAT meal, they would probably say “well, you wouldn’t get AS fat”- and that is the compromise most people are willing to make. But of course, they are grossly mistaken. Yes, people aren’t stupid, but they are ignorant. It’s not that they don’t try to lose the weight, it’s that they don’t know how. People don’t, in fact, know what’s good for them. And even if they were to look up nutritional information online or in books, they still wouldn’t find out- they’d just be counting calories. So people are largely victims and do need help with this stuff.

While I’m writing, my other objection with the movie is all the diet soda. While I guess you showed it’s not the worst thing in the world, aren’t you worried about all the adverse effects of aspartame? Have you seen Russell Blaylock’s presentation “Excitotoxins”, about MSG and aspartame? (it’s on google video) I’d like to know what you think of it, or even just what you think of Blaylock himself.

I agree that ignorance — in the true sense of the word, no insult intended — is part of the problem. I didn’t know any better either back when I was living on starch. My beef with the reviewer was over his statement that I think people are stupid. The people I interviewed on the street correctly identified a meal containing large fries and a large Coke as fattening. No ignorance on that issue. It’s a fattening meal and they knew it.

I tried to subscribe Blaylock’s online newsletter when I researching the film but never got it, and never could get anyone to tell me why, despite several phone calls.

I try to be understanding with people who aren’t yet ready to accept the truth about sugar and fat in our food. But ya know — the blood sugar meter doesn’t lie — and blood tests don’t lie either (unless your using some fruitcake calculated number like that crock about LDL. OMG!) I think some people just have to get to the end of the rope before they will be emotionally/mentally ready to accept a new paradigm. I just try to be patient.

I am of course happy the choir has enjoyed the film. We actually made some converts as well; I’ve heard from a few who saw the film on TV overseas. Amazon review happily accepted whenever you get the time.

I always chuckle when nutrition “experts” try to tell Gary Taubes about the laws of thermodynamics. Taubes has a degree in physics from Harvard.

Must be a case of selection bias; we pay more attention to what supports our existing beliefs.

I thought the message was clear as well, but as a writer, you never know. I guess it’s like the line from Cool Hand Luke: what we have here is a failure to communicate.

They list it as in-stock, which they didn’t last week, so I guess they got the missing shipment. Of course, I want them to run out of stock … then buy more.

I was also going to recommend Google Alerts, but Francis beat me to it.

You can’t please everyone, and unfortunately, some won’t even take the time to fully understand the message before criticizing it. I appreciate the message that you’re promoting through this site and am sure that many others do too, especially with the humor mixed in.

While stupid isn’t the appropriate term, I think the general public does deserve some of the blame for the modern trends of obesity and disease. Despite the unfortunate amount of misinformation that’s floating around, even from our government (i.e. the food pyramid), many people know that they’re living an unhealthy lifestyle and aren’t stepping up to take responsibility for themselves.

If Amazon ever decides to ship the copy of Fat Head that I ordered, I plan on writing a review of it.

I agree it’s largely about personal responsibility. People know (as the street interviews demonstrated) that fries and Cokes are fattening, yet many will order them anyway. I also believe bad government policy played a role, by turning us into a nation of sugar-eaters who crave yet more sugar.

How long have you been waiting for your copy? Our U.S. distributor had problems with one fulfillment center and found another, so I hope the delays are over.