Heather's sense of science
Seems that Ouch favourite Heather Mills-McCartney has got herself in another spot of bother. This time it's not over saying that she would than repeat the trauma of her marriage breakdown (sorry, Crippled Monkey couldn't resist), but rather it's a problem with a bunch of scientists.
The charity group has published a new in which they criticise certain celebrities for not checking their facts before lending their support to scientific research and campaigns on topics such as organic food, pesticides and ways to avoid cancer.
One of the celebs is our Heather herself, who was quoted as saying, on the subject of obesity: "Every day there's a new report warning that obesity levels in children are out of control ... the fact that those kids who drink the most milk gain the most weight should cause alarm bells to be ringing everywhere". But in response, Dr Philip Coan, a physiologist at the University of Cambridge, is having none of it: "It is not true to say that children who gain the most weight are doing so because of milk consumption. A US study ... found no link between increases in child weight and increases in drink consumption".
Since I have a fondess not only for milk, but also for greasy chips and pork pies, I'm probably not the best person to comment on the facts. But it's an interesting , and definitely worth checking out further.
Comments
Have to point out that the whole campaign against obesity has caused dever problems with my children. My autistic son was given a leaflet by his teachers, that had been designed by our loving government, which detailed the health processes disrupted by obesity. Four months on and he will not eat, he has lost over 2 and half stone and is now suffering with terrifying health problems. When will governments and teachers realise that you only give information on health problems to those with them to start with? By mishandling the obesity issue, we now have an anorexic son who couldn't afford to loose any weight to begin with!!
There's nowt wrong wi' greasy chips and pork pies. As long as they are doused in the right sauce/gravy.
When I am cremated it'll take days to put me out!
pete
It is very interesting that the new pro science organisation is doing exactly the same as the celebraties that they apear to be bemoning - It turns out that the artical that Dr Philip Coan is quoted as using was conducted by a member of the National Dairy Council, the National Cattleman’s and Beef Association and is a member of the advisory board of Cadbury Schweppes, who sell dairy products. Also the report that Ms Mills is refering to was 10 times larger than that quoted by Dr Coan, was not biased and followed 12,000 children for three years. It found that those who drank the most milk gained the most weight (Berkey et al., 2005), precisely what Ms Mills claimed. Other research supports this claim. Its a shame when science has to bend the rules just to sell something...