This sentiment is prevalent about the public however, there are two problems and its no wholly the scientists.
* The media wants to sell news and it needs to be different week to week. That’s why there are very few history lessons on the evening news unless it stirs up controversy.
* A lot of cheap and short studies are paid for by industry. These studies are typically not the type that get picked up by serious academics however they get picked up by the news and people who continually want to hear good news about their bad habits.
The overall science has been rather steadfast in the big picture since at least the 1970s. The McGovern report laid out guidance that later got so demonized by the keto crowd, who completely dreamed up some imaginary low-fat period in America that made people sick. Subsequently, it was twisted into some a pro-sugar pro-processed mantra by those who learned about it only third-hand via their preferred echo chambers. Let’s see what they actually said summarized:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Select_Committee_on_Nutrition_and_Human_Needs
>In January 1977, after having held hearings on the national diet, the McGovern committee issued a new set of nutritional guidelines for Americans that sought to combat leading killer conditions such as heart disease, certain cancers, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis.[2][10][11] Titled Dietary Goals for the United States, but also known as the “McGovern Report”,[10] they suggested that Americans eat less fat, less cholesterol, less refined and processed sugars, and more complex carbohydrates and fiber.[11] (Indeed, it was the McGovern report that first used the term complex carbohydrate, denoting “fruit, vegetables and whole-grains”.[12]) The recommended way of accomplishing this was to eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and less high-fat meat, egg, and dairy products.[2][11]
And you know what? That’s what major worldwide health agencies still tell people. Here is one example decades after the McGovern Report:
World Cancer Research Fund & American Institute for Cancer Research:
* 100 scientists from 30 countries reviewed 7000 studies over 5 years and published this guidance:
##>**[Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective](https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/4841/1/4841.pdf)**
>‘Western’ dietary patterns are energy dense, and are increasingly made up from processed foods. 5 They are high in meat, milk and other dairy products, fatty or sugary foods such as processed meats, pastries, baked goods, confectionery, sugared and often also alcoholic drinks, with variable amounts of vegetables and fruits. The starchy staple foods are usually breads, cereal products, or potatoes. A feature of the global ‘nutrition transition’ (see chapter 1.2.1) is that ‘western’ dietary patterns are becoming ‘exported’ globally with accelerating speed.
>‘Western’ diets defined in this way are associated with overweight and obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, some cancers, and other chronic diseases.
Remarkable.
Dining and Cooking