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Tom Watson.

Guzzler

Guzzler

Master
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10,577
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Diet only
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Poor grammar, bullying and drunks.
My youngest has just been telling me that a nutritionist was on Radio 5 Live commenting on Tom Watson's LCHF lifestyle, the result of which has seen a six stone fall in weight. She said that keto/LCHF was not sustainable and that Tom would yo-yo putting all the weight back on as with all fad diets.

One question, am I right in thinking that anyone can call themselves a nutritionist but to call oneself a dietician you must have had training and be on a register? Not that it matters, I know that my lifestyle is sustainable and that if a genie granted me full health I would not go back to a western diet.
 
That depends on the rules in the country. Here in Oz for example, a dietitian must have accreditation from a degree awarding institution and be registered otherwise punitive action will result. Anyone can hang a shingle on their door claiming to be a nutritionist.
 
The fact that dietitians are accredited by 'totally captured by the food industry' associations like the British and Australian ones is a huge red flag. Avoid like the plague is my motto ;)

My cynicism is now complete - the first thing I want to know about any 'professional' organisation and/or 'charity' is who their sponsors are. Follow the money!
 
Indy51 said:
The fact that dietitians are accredited by 'totally captured by the food industry' associations like the British and Australian ones is a huge red flag. Avoid like the plague is my motto ;)

My cynicism is now complete - the first thing I want to know about any 'professional' organisation and/or 'charity' is who their sponsors are. Follow the money!
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I have to admit that after learning about Tim Noakes' trial I am having harsh thoughts about dieticians in general.
 
Indy51 said:
The fact that dietitians are accredited by 'totally captured by the food industry' associations like the British and Australian ones is a huge red flag. Avoid like the plague is my motto ;)

My cynicism is now complete - the first thing I want to know about any 'professional' organisation and/or 'charity' is who their sponsors are. Follow the money!
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One does not require membership of a professional organization in order to practise. Accreditation results from the award of meeting the tertiary requirements. The association is no different to any other including unions. They all have the self interest of their members at heart. Every industry has them.
 
Crocodile said:
One does not require membership of a professional organization in order to practise. Accreditation results from the award of meeting the tertiary requirements. The association is no different to any other including unions. They all have the self interest of their members at heart. Every industry has them.
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My understanding is that, in Australia at least, a dietitian has to be a member of the DAA to be able to obtain a Medicare etc. practitioner's number that allows patients to claim rebates for their services. They hold that very big stick over the heads of their members to ensure they toe the party line. There's a very interesting twitter account "We Dietitians" that has some sobering tales of the goings on, e.g. the way the DAA behaved towards Jennifer Elliott:

https://twitter.com/WeDietitians

Then there's the whole sorry saga of the DAA persecution of Gary Fettke. Makes for some very interesting reading.
 
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Indy51 said:
My understanding is that, in Australia at least, a dietitian has to be a member of the DAA to be able to obtain a Medicare etc. practitioner's number that allows patients to claim rebates for their services. They hold that very big stick over the heads of their members to ensure they toe the party line. There's a very interesting twitter account "We Dietitians" that has some sobering tales of the goings on, e.g. the way the DAA behaved towards Jennifer Elliott:

https://twitter.com/WeDietitians

Then there's the whole sorry saga of the DAA persecution of Gary Fettke. Makes for some very interesting reading.
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DAA is the accrediting body but they cannot force membership nor deny suitably qualified people a license to practice. Sure, like any other union, they can make life hard. It isn't really much different from my own professional association, Engineers Australia, which is the accrediting provider. They cannot force me to be a member. They cannot stop me from practicing. The only thing they can do is make things hard by attempting to prosecute for misconduct. This they have to prove in court. I agree it's not good but all of these unions are the same. We don't call the Royal College of Surgeons the "CFMEU with stethoscopes" for nothing.
 
This nutritionist on the radio said that there was "... no scientific basis behind this diet". This comment seems to reverberate amongst the naysayers until you ask for the science behind the western diet or, indeed, diets like the EatWell Plate. It makes you wonder just how entrenched the Big Food manufacturers influence is in regard to the bodys that decide on dietary guidelines. It does seem like these bodys are on the attack which my nasty, suspicious mind tells me there is definitely cause to look for shenannigans and chicanery.
 
It does make me wonder if a class action suit against a body like the DAA might work. Not sure what the suit might be - negligence, attempted GBH - through life harming advice. I suspect it wouldn't get anywhere and the food and pharmaceutical industries would soon get behind DAA. It would take much smarter peeps than I to present the evidence.

I feel sorry for those looking for a magic pill who don't research their condition and seek a more appropriate course than the one offered by the medical and nutrition bodies.
 
TonyHancock said:
I feel sorry for those looking for a magic pill who don't research their condition and seek a more appropriate course than the one offered by the medical and nutrition bodies.
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Here we have the Heart and Stroke foundation that puts a check mark on “heart smart” foods.
I causes people to just accept it with out researching if that product truly is good for ones heart.
 
Hotpepper20000 said:
Here we have the Heart and Stroke foundation that puts a check mark on “heart smart” foods.
I causes people to just accept it with out researching if that product truly is good for ones heart.
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Simply because if they thought about it at all (which I certainly never did and wouldn't have dreamed of questioning these symbols) then surely it would have led them to think that these associations/foundations had done the research and acted upon sound, honest conclusions.
 
Hotpepper20000 said:
Here we have the Heart and Stroke foundation that puts a check mark on “heart smart” foods.
I causes people to just accept it with out researching if that product truly is good for ones heart.
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Heart Smart doesn't consider diabetics. Can't see a 'Diabetic Smart' working too well either. It is a whole diet regimen rather than singular foods. On top of that, opposition from the illustrious all and powerful that apparently know better.
 
Crocodile said:
Heart Smart doesn't consider diabetics. Can't see a 'Diabetic Smart' working too well either. It is a whole diet regimen rather than singular foods. On top of that, opposition from the illustrious all and powerful that apparently know better.
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I agree.
I know it doesn’t consider diabetics. But it does give people who don’t do their own research a false sense of security.
It has been said before on this forum that the members here are unusual in that they ask questions and try to find solutions to their health issues. And many times it’s goes against the HCP and what is considered popular opinion.
 
Hotpepper20000 said:
I agree.
I know it doesn’t consider diabetics. But it does give people who don’t do their own research a false sense of security.
It has been said before on this forum that the members here are unusual in that they ask questions and try to find solutions to their health issues. And many times it’s goes against the HCP and what is considered popular opinion.
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Are you saying that there may be more people with nasty, suspicious minds like mine on this forum? :happy:
 
Guzzler said:
One question, am I right in thinking that anyone can call themselves a nutritionist
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In the UK, that is correct. However, I made sure that my nutritionist didn't just call herself a nutritionist, she has a BSc in Nutritional Medicine, is a member of The British Association of Nutritional Therapists and a qualified Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council Nutritional Therapist, She also has a BSc in Chemistry and an MBA. No slouch by any means and was 100% responsible for me following a low carb diet.

My opinion is that the diet is sustainable, especially as I can't go back to eating the approximately 250gms of carbohydrate a day without going back to taking additional medication to control BG.

Guzzler said:
This nutritionist on the radio said that there was "... no scientific basis behind this diet".
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I don't suppose you remember her name. It's interesting that her opinion is totally different to the opinion of my well qualified Nutritional Therapist. Makes you wonder, I'll have to mention it to her, in fact I'll send her an eMail.
 
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DavidGrahamJones said:
In the UK, that is correct. However, I made sure that my nutritionist didn't just call herself a nutritionist, she has a BSc in Nutritional Medicine, is a member of The British Association of Nutritional Therapists and a qualified Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council Nutritional Therapist, She also has a BSc in Chemistry and an MBA. No slouch by any means and was 100% responsible for me following a low carb diet.

My opinion is that the diet is sustainable, especially as I can't go back to eating the approximately 250gms of carbohydrate a day without going back to taking additional medication to control BG.



I don't suppose you remember her name. It's interesting that her opinion is totally different to the opinion of my well qualified Nutritional Therapist. Makes you wonder, I'll have to mention it to her, in fact I'll send her an eMail.
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I didn't hear the interview, it was my youngest who heard it. I will ask him if he caught her name when he gets home this evening.
 
Guzzler said:
I will ask him if he caught her name when he gets home this evening.
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Cheers, it sounds like someone pontificating and waxing lyrical about something they have little or no actual knowledge of and certainly no empirical evidence. I'm pleased that Tom Watson has had success with the LCHF diet (he was putting butter in coffee, that's hard core LCHF LOL). Whether one MP in the commons is enough to change attitudes, who knows. I did see one quote that's something I've experienced. Basically you can't be racist, sexist, homophobic, but can say what you like to and about overweight people.
 
DavidGrahamJones said:
Cheers, it sounds like someone pontificating and waxing lyrical about something they have little or no actual knowledge of and certainly no empirical evidence. I'm pleased that Tom Watson has had success with the LCHF diet (he was putting butter in coffee, that's hard core LCHF LOL). Whether one MP in the commons is enough to change attitudes, who knows. I did see one quote that's something I've experienced. Basically you can't be racist, sexist, homophobic, but can say what you like to and about overweight people.
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I am a recent convert to Bulletproof coffee and yes, it has butter and coconut oil in it on top of the double cream and it feels very decadent, I love it.
 
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