"Peter Aitken" > wrote in message
...
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> Check out the other thread today called "Low Fat Diet Debunked."
>>
>> It lists various reasons why the study (not nec.the interview with some
>> overwieght people) has serious flaws... beginning with the variables
>> they used because the study was stared 8 years ago when our
>> understandings of certain things were different from what they are now,
>> and therefore may not show what they were attempting to find out.
>>
>
> Every study has flaws but that does not mean the findings are invalid.
> It's teelling how so many people immediately rushed to criticise the study
> rather than actually reading it and trying to understand what it does and
> does not tell us. A lot of people have a major psychological investment in
> the "dietary fat is bad" mantra and presenting any factual information to
> the contrary is akin to showing insulting cartoons of the Prophet to
> Muslims. The exact same thing happened when the Atkins diet became
> popular. The very idea that you might be able to lose weight and improve
> your health on this diet was blasphemy to these people. They are like the
> religious fundies in this way - they know what's true and damned if any
> facts will sway them.
>
>
> --
> Peter Aitken
>
>

Many years ago, I read a fascinating article, probably in "Psychology Today"
magazine, about why people are so vehement in defending their purchasing
decisions. It's been the subject of endless research, not just because it's
interesting, but because it's of immense value to advertisers. Example:
After taking it in the rear end from American car makers when quality fell
apart in the 1970s, why were so many people more than happy to bend over
repeatedly for another "treatment"? Since so many diet plans involve special
purchases, they certainly fall under the same heading.