Anti-obesity campaigners stoked controversy today by calling for the nation to adopt low-carb diets to reduce weight.
The National Obesity Forum’s report says that eating fatty food may help reduce weight as part of a low-carbohydrate diet.
But it was criticised by medical experts.
Professor John Wass, obesity expert at the Royal College of Physicians, said: "Not everybody would agree with these findings. There is good evidence that saturated fat increases cholesterol and problems with arterial disease and that reducing cholesterol by statins decreases coronary and cerebrovascular events.
"What is needed is a balanced diet, regular physical activity and a normal healthy weight. To quote selective studies risks misleading the public."
And Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, accused the report of being "short-sighted", causing confusion and fear among the public.
He said: “This report is full of ideas and opinion however it does not offer the robust and comprehensive review of evidence that would be required for the BHF, as the UK’s largest heart research charity, to take it seriously.
“This country’s obesity epidemic is not caused by poor dietary guidelines; it is that we are not meeting them. Diets that are high in saturated fat have been shown to increase cholesterol. High cholesterol is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease hence why current recommendations emphasise the importance of reducing this."
The NOF’s report says the public should avoid foods with labels such as "low fat", "low cholesterol" or "proven to lower cholesterol."
It says the public should avoid industrial vegetable oils – and should avoid snacking.
Dr Aseem Malhotra, a senior adviser to the National Obesity Forum, said: "The change in dietary advice to promote low fat foods is perhaps the biggest mistake in modern medical history.
"We must urgently change the message to the public to reverse obesity and type 2 diabetes. Eat fat to get slim, don’t fear fat, fat is your friend."
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