Letters
The science of obesity
Essay was based on incorrect premises and an unproved assumption
BMJ 2013; 346 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f3120 (Published 22 May 2013) Cite this as: BMJ 2013;346:f3120
- Richard Conrad Cottrell, director general1
- 1World Sugar Research Organisation, London SW1V 3LX, UK
- rcottrell{at}wsro.org
In attempting to resurrect a long discarded “hormonal” theory of obesity, Taubes falls into a circular argument based on incorrect premises and an unproved assumption.1
The circularity rests in his claim that overconsumption of carbohydrate causes a hormonal response that leads to overconsumption of food energy, with overconsumption being a consequence of the hormonal response rather than its cause.
An axial, …
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