Day 254 - 22 May 96 - Page 64
1 I think he has used his words very carefully and saying it
2 is likely it would be reasonable to advise the general
3 public to eat decreased amounts of total fat and saturated
4 fat.
5
6 Q. So the type of diet that you want to avoid eating to cut
7 down your risk of getting cancer of the breast and bowel is
8 a diet high in fat, and saturated fats, and low in fibre;
9 is that not right?
10 A. Can you say that again?
11
12 Q. So the type of diet that you want to avoid eating in order
13 to cut down on your risk of getting cancer of the breast
14 and bowel is a diet that is high in fat and saturated fat
15 and low in fibre?
16 A. Well, I do not think you can actually draw that
17 conclusion from the statement which is published here. One
18 does not necessarily follow the other. What he is
19 recommending is based on the evidence that he has reviewed
20 sensible advice in terms of protection, but it does not
21 mean that if you ate more fat than that that it would
22 increase your risk of getting cancer.
23
24 Q. I am asking you the type of diet that you want to avoid in
25 order to cut down on your risk of getting cancer of the
26 breast or bowel is a diet that is high in fat and saturated
27 fat and low in fibre?
28 A. As a scientist I would have to say that we have not got
29 the evidence to actually say that, but what we have got the
30 evidence to say is that if you have a diet which is high in
31 fruit and vegetables that that is the most sensible way
32 forward, and it would seem reasonable in terms of an easy
33 way to avoid obesity, and we have already discussed the
34 question of body mass being a factor in total energy
35 intake, it is easy to cut down on fat because of the amount
36 of energy per gram of food that fat contains. I have got
37 to answer you based on scientific evidence and proof. What
38 you are arguing about is the advice that one should give to
39 the general population as a whole.
40
41 Q. I am arguing about the type of diet that you want to avoid
42 to cut down on your risk of getting these diseases?
43 A. What I am saying to you, though, is that it is fair to
44 recommend what he has done, which is cutting down on fat
45 and having plenty of fruit and vegetables, but it does not
46 necessarily mean to say having more fat in your diet than
47 is recommended here is necessarily harmful.
48
49 Q. The point is that we are talking about risk and it may be
50 that there are some people -- as we all know there are
51 people who smoke until they are 100 and they never get lung
52 cancer -- are not going to fit in to this particular
53 pattern, or whatever. The point is that if you want to cut
54 down on your risk you should avoid a diet high in fat and
55 saturated fat and low in fibre; yes?
56 A. I do not think that one can necessarily say that. As
57 far as population recommendations are concerned, I think
58 what we should be saying positively to people is that a
59 diet which is low in fat and a diet which has a lot of
60 fruit and vegetables may be protective. It certainly would
