Aseem Malhotra
Dr Aseem Malhotra is a cardiologist at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and former clinical associate to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. June 2014 - June 2015
He is an active member of Action on Sugar. He has been particularly prominent in attacking the "myth" that saturated fat must be removed from the diet to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. He denounces what he calls the government’s "obsession" with levels of total cholesterol, which, he says, has led to the overmedication of millions of people with statins, and has diverted attention from the "more egregious" risk factor of atherogenic dyslipidaemia. He directs his attention to the effects of sugar and in particular on its hypothesised role in diabetes.[1] He advocates a 20% sugary drinks tax, which, he claims, would reduce the number of people in the UK becoming obese by 180,000 within a year.[2] According to Malhotra, the public wrongly believe that obesity is due to a sedentary lifestyle, when the blame for the rise in obesity should be directed towards the type and amount of calories consumed.[3]
He believes that over-diagnosis and over-treatment is “the greatest threat to our healthcare system”.[4] He says that in the UK at least £2bn is wasted each year on unnecessary tests and treatment.[5]
References
- ↑ Malhotra, Aseem (22 October 2013). "Saturated fat is not the major issue". British Medical Journal. 347: f6340. doi:10.1136/bmj.f6340. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ↑ "A glass of water a day 'can cut diabetes risk by a quarter'". Daily Express. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ↑ "Sugar, not laziness, makes us fat: Poor diet responsible for more disease than lack of exercise, smoking and alcohol combined, say doctors". Daily Mail. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ↑ "'Over-treating' patients is wasteful, unnecessary and can cause them harm, campaign claims". Independent. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ↑ "Is the failure of health regulation damaging our well-being?". Guardian. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.