Professor Timothy Caulfield gave a very entertaining lecture this evening as part of the Edmonton Community Foundation's ECL Lecture Series. In fact he has done a lot of research and published extensively in both the scientific and lay press about how popular culture is shaping our approach to health, and our attitudes towards science. Interesting reading.
The rise of pseudoscience, propagated by celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jenny McCarthy, and Dr. Oz just to name a few, has led to our society believing and trying all sorts of weird and wonderful things in the name of beauty and greater health. As a physician, I am often struggling to debunk myths and provide my patients with solid medical advice and references that they can access to answer their questions.
Unlike Dr. Caulfied, I have not done a lot of rigorous research in this area; so hats off to him for doing this and in such an interesting area. As a consumer, mom, professional, and human being I am interested, like everyone in what makes us healthier and happier.
Dr. Caulfield advocates the following 5 simple steps to better health (which I mostly like by the way):
1. Don't smoke
2. Participate in vigorous exercise
3. Eat real food
4. Control your weight
5. Love someone
I would like to challenge him here. In an accidental way, he is, like his pal Gwyneth, placing the focus in the wrong direction. He actually alludes to this in his talk - when he gets to point number 4.
Controlling weight, as Dr. Arya Sharma blogs endlessly about, is largely impossible. Perhaps the language is important - I will admit that consistency in diet and exercise will, lead to consistency in weight for many. However, this topic is incredibly complex, and in fact many experts will tell you that focussing on weight is a mistake, bound to lead to failure. It is this very focus that is one of the key factors that sets the stage for the fads and pseudoscience abundant in the weight loss industry. I will not reiterate the arguments here, but would direct you to Dr. Sharma's blog for an interesting and entertaining overview of this very subject.
I would encourage Dr. Caulfield to substitute adequate sleep for point number 4. Instead of focussing on weight, I encourage my patients to focus on how they feel. If they are energetic, happy, and have a sense of well-being then they are likely on the road to better health. I think health professionals of all stripes should really consider advocating a focus on feeling better through better habits and strongly discourage measuring body parts, and weighing ourselves. It just doesn't work.
When faced with someone armed with supplements, literature on fad diets, and cleanses, I turn the tables by simply advocating for the ultimate in wholistic medicine: get enough rest, eat food that looks like it did when it came from the farmer, move your body, don't smoke, engage in meaningful relationships, and pursue your passions. If people do this, the world simply opens up in a positive way; no matter their limitations. In addition, they save a lot of money on expensive wholistic pharmaceuticals and food substitutes that are really a lot less pleasurable than food.
Here's to Dr. Caulfield, may he debunk myths and dethrone pseudoscience one celebrity at a time.
The rise of pseudoscience, propagated by celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jenny McCarthy, and Dr. Oz just to name a few, has led to our society believing and trying all sorts of weird and wonderful things in the name of beauty and greater health. As a physician, I am often struggling to debunk myths and provide my patients with solid medical advice and references that they can access to answer their questions.
Unlike Dr. Caulfied, I have not done a lot of rigorous research in this area; so hats off to him for doing this and in such an interesting area. As a consumer, mom, professional, and human being I am interested, like everyone in what makes us healthier and happier.
Dr. Caulfield advocates the following 5 simple steps to better health (which I mostly like by the way):
1. Don't smoke
2. Participate in vigorous exercise
3. Eat real food
4. Control your weight
5. Love someone
I would like to challenge him here. In an accidental way, he is, like his pal Gwyneth, placing the focus in the wrong direction. He actually alludes to this in his talk - when he gets to point number 4.
Controlling weight, as Dr. Arya Sharma blogs endlessly about, is largely impossible. Perhaps the language is important - I will admit that consistency in diet and exercise will, lead to consistency in weight for many. However, this topic is incredibly complex, and in fact many experts will tell you that focussing on weight is a mistake, bound to lead to failure. It is this very focus that is one of the key factors that sets the stage for the fads and pseudoscience abundant in the weight loss industry. I will not reiterate the arguments here, but would direct you to Dr. Sharma's blog for an interesting and entertaining overview of this very subject.
I would encourage Dr. Caulfield to substitute adequate sleep for point number 4. Instead of focussing on weight, I encourage my patients to focus on how they feel. If they are energetic, happy, and have a sense of well-being then they are likely on the road to better health. I think health professionals of all stripes should really consider advocating a focus on feeling better through better habits and strongly discourage measuring body parts, and weighing ourselves. It just doesn't work.
When faced with someone armed with supplements, literature on fad diets, and cleanses, I turn the tables by simply advocating for the ultimate in wholistic medicine: get enough rest, eat food that looks like it did when it came from the farmer, move your body, don't smoke, engage in meaningful relationships, and pursue your passions. If people do this, the world simply opens up in a positive way; no matter their limitations. In addition, they save a lot of money on expensive wholistic pharmaceuticals and food substitutes that are really a lot less pleasurable than food.
Here's to Dr. Caulfield, may he debunk myths and dethrone pseudoscience one celebrity at a time.
Agreed!
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