Press Release: Coalition Alarmed at Blatant Disregard of Science in Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Meeting
March 20, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2020
Press Contact: Jessica Wharton
press@lowcarbaction.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Low-Carb Action Network (L-CAN) today expressed extreme concern and disappointment at the blatant disregard for science at last week’s final meeting of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which failed to report findings on low-carbohydrate diets.
“The Committee was created by Congress to act as a trusted voice and proponent of sound science. In their last public meeting, they ignored relevant low-carb diet evidence. This is a disservice to their own process, and to Americans in search of better health,” said Ted Eytan, MD and L-CAN Director.
During the meeting, a member of the subcommittee overseeing the low-carbohydrate reviews stated that they could find no studies below 25% of energy as carbohydrates, even though there are at least 50 such studies. This committee member falsely stated that scientific evidence on low-carbohydrate diets was “fairly limited.”
“The Dietary Guidelines touch every aspect of food and nutrition via federal policy. This is the most important time to be accurate given our current health situation,” Eytan said.
He added, “Obesity and nutrition-related illness, including diabetes, are affecting more Americans than ever. Our hope has been for the Guidelines to be updated to include all rigorously studied dietary options for Americans. We can’t continue to keep people and trusted health professionals alike from pursuing all possible strategies in the prevention of serious chronic illnesses.”
A low-carb diet is widely considered to include up to 25% of daily calories from carbohydrates, and is now considered one standard of care for the management of Type 2 diabetes by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Following a rigorous review, the ADA judged a low-carb diet to be an effective, evidence-based option for reducing blood pressure and improving “good” cholesterol, as well as providing the “most evidence” for helping people to control blood sugar.
The Low-Carb Action Network is advocating that a low-carbohydrate dietary pattern be added as one viable option in the upcoming 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.