Dr Simon Thornley MBChB, MPH(hons), PhD. - University of Auckland, New Zealand. Public Health Physician, lecturer and researcher in the department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Thornley's research interests include epidemiological methods, low carbohydrate and low sugar approaches to diet, and the link between scabies and important diseases of childhood, such as bacterial skin infection and rheumatic heart disease.
In 2011 Simon Thornley & Haydn McRobbie published the book Sickly Sweet: Sugar, Refined Carbohydrate, Addiction and Global Obesity.
This interview discusses:
Contradictions between content in med school literature and the evidence presented in popular low-carb literature.
Thornley's background as a tobacco researcher, and awareness sugar prompted similar patterns (cravings, cues, withdrawal).
Research & understanding that refined starches contributed to the blood glucose burden & food addiction.
New Zealand's obesity statistics, with 1/3 adults classified as obese and 13.5% of children classified as obese.
The reliability of the scientific evidence that saturated fat contributes to the cardiovascular disease burden.
Health star ratings.
Diets for teeth & diets for waistline, pancreas, coronary arteries.
Progress in schools to remove sugar.
Inaction, confused public health paradigms, and government policy with 'no strong voice at government, policy, nutrition level.
New Zealand's High-level health system indicators.
To read more and find Dr Thornley's published research go to: https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/s-thornley
To watch this on YouTube with subtitles/images of cited content go to:
Refined starches & patterns of addiction. Having a good hard look at the evidence.