Se aewast eee Weber State College Comment, April 1988 Page 6 “The distortion of perspective caused by food faddism can result in an inability to. distinguish good from bad.” Health food fanatics not promoting health by Clayton F. Parkinson Dr. Parkinson is an associate professor of health sciences at Weber State. ealth food enthusiasts exhibit a zealot-type of excitement about their products, but in reality those products are often anything but healthy. The concept of “you are what you eat” is fundamental among food faddists, and is wrong. The fact is, other determinants of health are equally as important. Faddists believe and promote the idea that diet determines not only health and disease, but also spirituality, intelligence, sexual passion, oral behavior, and almost all aspects of life. Some faddists consider diet to be thekey factor in juvenile delinquency, drug addiction, criminal behavior, childhood hyperactivity, and mental disorders. Many faddists look to diet primarily, or even exclusively, for prevention, control or cure of cancer, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. But as important as nutrition is, it rarely is as important as the faddist claims. Nutritional deficiencies or excesses are just one cause of disease. But why should we be concerned about food faddism? After all, if it gets people to change their eating habits, let’s do it. Certainly a nation that spends what ours does on alcohol, tobacco, candy and junk food can spend a little extra on organically-grown foods, vitamins, and the like. Superficial examination gives some validity to such statements. However, if we examine all the possible costs of nutritional faddism we must conclude that the price is too high. Food faddism kills, maims, and robs ina manner so subtle that few recognize they are victims. The distortion of perspective caused by food faddism can result in an inability to distinguish good from bad. Food faddists may cause people to confuse friends with enemies. Health food propaganda portrays governmental regulatory agencies, nutritional scientists, physicians and others as enemies of the public. At the same time food faddists pose as friends and saviors of mankind as they undermine public confidence in worthwhile and scientifically valid public health efforts. The end result can be an omission of proper treatment. Some characteristics of food faddi 1. The faddists sell by personal a sincerity and enthusiasm rather than true facts about their products. 2. Promises are made which are good to be true. They promote s nutrition for the incurable, prevention the unavoidable, and a means to achi the unattainable. 3. They claim to be victims of cution or lack of cooperation by gove ment, organized medicine or establis institutions. The faddists view criti as persecution. They tend to be p Specifically, they may claim great di eries that are being ignored because “establishment” really doesn’t w cure disease. 4. They seek to bypass scientific in favor of legalization or political r nition. In law, a claim is presumed until proven false. In scientific m aclaim is presumed false until proven Therefore, the faddists move their ment into the political arena in remove the burden of proof. 5. Their theories and claims are