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{{overly detailed|date=November 2022}}
{{overly detailed|date=November 2022}}
{{coatrack|details=there is too much focus on the controversies surrounding saturated fat, statins and cholesterol in general, which is undue and outside the scope of this biography|date=November 2022}}
{{coatrack|details=there is too much focus on the controversies surrounding saturated fat, statins and cholesterol in general, which is undue and outside the scope of this biography|date=November 2022}}
'''Aseem Malhotra''' is a controversial British [[cardiology|cardiologist]],<ref name="sbm" /> public [[health campaign]]er,<ref name="KF" /> author of several books, and writer of newspaper articles. He campaigns for people to reduce sugar in their diet,<ref name="ST5002016" /> promotes a low-carb, high-fat diet,<ref name=bda/> and encourages the reduction of medical overprescribing.<ref name="HSJ2014BME" /> He was the first science director of [[Action on Sugar]] in 2014.<ref name="OHaraGuardian">{{cite news|last1=O'Hara|first1=Mary|date=18 November 2015|title='We need to make people get angry about sugar' says cardiologist campaigner {{!}} Mary O'Hara|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/18/aseem-malhotra-sugar-campaigner-prevent-obesity-public-pressure-on-government}}</ref> He has been listed as one of ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' 500 most influential people<ref name="ST5002016">{{cite news |date= 24 January 2016 | title=Britain's 500 Most Influential |publisher=Sunday Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/britains-500-most-influential-fxtzx0sg7qd |access-date= 3 September 2021}}</ref> and was twice recognized as one of the top fifty black and minority ethnic community member pioneers in the UK's [[National Health Service]] by the ''[[Health Service Journal]]''.<ref name="HSJ2013BME" /><ref name="HSJ2014BME" /> Malhotra is co-author of a book called ''The Pioppi Diet''.<ref>Mellor, Duane. (2017). [https://life.spectator.co.uk/articles/dietitians-like-me-dont-take-the-pioppi-diet-seriously/ "Dietitians like me don't take the Pioppi Diet seriously"]. ''[[The Spectator]]''. Retrieved 2 December 2018.</ref>
'''Aseem Malhotra''' is a controversial<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orac |date=2022-10-10 |title=Dr. Asseem Malhotra engages in massive projection about COVID-19 "misinformation" |url=https://www.respectfulinsolence.com/2022/10/10/dr-asseem-malhotra-engages-in-massive-projection-about-covid-19-misinformation/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=RESPECTFUL INSOLENCE |language=en-US}}</ref> British [[cardiology|cardiologist]],<ref name="sbm" /> public [[health campaign]]er,<ref name="KF" /> author of several books, and writer of newspaper articles. He campaigns for people to reduce sugar in their diet,<ref name="ST5002016" /> promotes a low-carb, high-fat diet,<ref name="bda">{{cite web |date=7 December 2017 |title=Top 5 worst celeb diets to avoid in 2018 |url=https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/top-5-worst-celeb-diets-to-avoid-in-2018.html |publisher=British Dietetic Association |quote=the authors may well be the only people in the history of the planet who have been to Italy and come back with a diet named after an Italian village that excludes pasta, rice and bread}}</ref> and encourages the reduction of medical overprescribing.<ref name="HSJ2014BME" /> He was the first science director of [[Action on Sugar]] in 2014.<ref name="OHaraGuardian">{{cite news|last1=O'Hara|first1=Mary|date=18 November 2015|title='We need to make people get angry about sugar' says cardiologist campaigner {{!}} Mary O'Hara|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/18/aseem-malhotra-sugar-campaigner-prevent-obesity-public-pressure-on-government}}</ref> He has been listed as one of ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' 500 most influential people<ref name="ST5002016">{{cite news |date= 24 January 2016 | title=Britain's 500 Most Influential |publisher=Sunday Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/britains-500-most-influential-fxtzx0sg7qd |access-date= 3 September 2021}}</ref> and was twice recognized as one of the top fifty black and minority ethnic community member pioneers in the UK's [[National Health Service]] by the ''[[Health Service Journal]]''.<ref name="HSJ2013BME" /><ref name="HSJ2014BME" /> Malhotra is co-author of a book called ''The Pioppi Diet''.<ref>Mellor, Duane. (2017). [https://life.spectator.co.uk/articles/dietitians-like-me-dont-take-the-pioppi-diet-seriously/ "Dietitians like me don't take the Pioppi Diet seriously"]. ''[[The Spectator]]''. Retrieved 2 December 2018.</ref>


His views on diet and health have been criticized by the [[British Heart Foundation]] as "misleading and wrong", and his public questioning of the need ever to use [[statin]]s has been condemned as a danger to public health.<ref name="ButterNonsense"/> His "Pioppi diet" was named by the [[British Dietetic Association]] as one of the "top 5 worst [[fad diet|celeb diets]] to avoid in 2018".<ref name=bda/> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Malhotra published a book called ''The 21-Day Immunity Plan'',<ref name="EuropeanScientist" /> which claims that following the diet can quickly help people reduce their risk from the virus; such claims are not backed by medical research evidence.<ref name=sbm/> Despite initially campaigning for the COVID virus,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Dr. Aseem Malhotra who promoted COVID-19 vaccine on TV calls for its immediate suspension to investigate serious side effects |url=https://aosis.co.za/news-dr-aseem-malhotra-who-promoted-covid-19-vaccine-on-tv-calls-for-its-immediate-suspension-to-investigate-serious-side-effects/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=AOSIS |language=en-ZA}}</ref> he later campaigned against the use of COVID [[mRNA vaccines]]<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chumley|first=Cheryl|date=27 September 2022|title=Pro-COVID-19 vaccine doc calls for stop to shots|work=Washington Times|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/sep/27/pro-covid-19-shot-doc-calls-stop-shots/|url-status=live|access-date=6 October 2022}}</ref> contrary to the available evidence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-06 |title=Article by cardiologist Aseem Malhotra made unsupported claims about the benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccination |url=https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/article-by-cardiologist-aseem-malhotra-made-unsupported-claims-about-benefits-risks-covid-19-vaccination/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Health Feedback |language=en-US}}</ref>
However, his views on diet and health have been criticized by the [[British Heart Foundation]] as "misleading and wrong", and his public questioning of the need ever to use [[statin]]s has been condemned as a danger to public health.<ref name="ButterNonsense"/> His "Pioppi diet" was named by the [[British Dietetic Association]] as one of the "top 5 worst [[fad diet|celeb diets]] to avoid in 2018".<ref name=bda/> His work has been described as "dodgy science"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spectator |first=The |date=2015-04-27 |title=The dodgy science behind the claim that exercise doesn't help you lose weight |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-dodgy-science-behind-the-claim-that-exercise-doesn-t-help-you-lose-weight/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=The Spectator |language=en-US}}</ref> by authors highlighting his academic work has previously ben found to be quoting flawed data.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Godlee |first=Fiona |date=2014-05-15 |title=Adverse effects of statins |url=https://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g3306 |journal=BMJ |language=en |volume=348 |pages=g3306 |doi=10.1136/bmj.g3306 |issn=1756-1833 |pmid=25134141}}</ref> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Malhotra published a book called ''The 21-Day Immunity Plan'',<ref name="EuropeanScientist" /> which claims that following the diet can quickly help people reduce their risk from the virus; such claims are not backed by medical research evidence.<ref name=sbm/> Despite initially campaigning for the COVID vaccine,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Dr. Aseem Malhotra who promoted COVID-19 vaccine on TV calls for its immediate suspension to investigate serious side effects |url=https://aosis.co.za/news-dr-aseem-malhotra-who-promoted-covid-19-vaccine-on-tv-calls-for-its-immediate-suspension-to-investigate-serious-side-effects/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=AOSIS |language=en-ZA}}</ref> he later campaigned against the use of COVID [[mRNA vaccines]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Chumley|first=Cheryl|date=27 September 2022|title=Pro-COVID-19 vaccine doc calls for stop to shots|work=Washington Times|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/sep/27/pro-covid-19-shot-doc-calls-stop-shots/|url-status=live|access-date=6 October 2022}}</ref> contrary to the available evidence.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2022-10-06 |title=Article by cardiologist Aseem Malhotra made unsupported claims about the benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccination |url=https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/article-by-cardiologist-aseem-malhotra-made-unsupported-claims-about-benefits-risks-covid-19-vaccination/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Health Feedback |language=en-US}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
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===Reducing the consumption of sugar and junk foods===
===Reducing the consumption of sugar and junk foods===


Malhotra campaigns about reducing the consumption of sugar and junk foods, particularly in the diet of children.<ref name=HuffJuly2012>{{cite web |last1=Malhotra|first1=Aseem| title=To Combat Obesity We Must Alter Our Environment |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-aseem-malhotra/to-combat-obesity-we-must-alter-our-environment_b_1681784.html |date=18 July 2012 |publisher=Huffpost |access-date=21 December 2021}}{{third-party inline|date=November 2022}} </ref> The fact that most people in Britain, including children, eat too much sugar and that this contributes to obesity is acknowledged by the NHS healthy eating guidelines.<ref name="Eatwell1" /><ref name=NHS8tips>{{cite web | title=8 tips for healthy eating | date=27 April 2018 | url=https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/eight-tips-for-healthy-eating/ |publisher=NHS |access-date=21 December 2021}}</ref><ref name=NHSsugar>{{cite web |title=How to cut down on sugar in your diet |date=27 April 2018 |url=https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-cut-down-on-sugar-in-your-diet/ |publisher=NHS | access-date=21 December 2021 }}</ref> However, Malhotra argues that it is unrealistic to expect individuals to avoid cheap, unhealthy, heavily marketed foods and that changes to regulation are needed.<ref name=HuffJuly2012 /> He draws analogies to the regulations on tobacco that were necessary to reduce smoking.<ref name=HuffOct2012 >{{cite web |last1=Malhotra|first1=Aseem|title=How False Advertising by Big Food Is Driving Obesity |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-aseem-malhotra/false-advertising-by-big-food-driving-obesity_b_1968682.html |date=16 October 2012 |publisher=Huffpost |access-date=21 December 2021 }}</ref> He also thinks that vending machines in hospitals selling sweets and junk foods send the wrong message.<ref name=HuffOct2012 /> At the time of the London Olympics in 2012, he criticized the choice of sponsors: writing that "In the context of an obesity epidemic I find it obscene that the Olympics chooses to associate itself with fast food, sugary drinks, chocolate and alcohol."<ref name=BBC2012 /> His campaigns on these topics have brought him recognition and accolades including as a children's food hero in 2013, one of the top 50 BME pioneers in the NHS in 2013, one of London's brightest stars working in Science and Technology in 2014, and one of the top 500 most influential people in the UK in 2016.<ref name="Sustain" /><ref name="HSJ2013BME" /><ref name="EvStd2014supersmart" /><ref name="ST5002016" />
Malhotra campaigns about reducing the consumption of sugar and junk foods, particularly in the diet of children.<ref name=HuffJuly2012>{{cite web |last1=Malhotra|first1=Aseem| title=To Combat Obesity We Must Alter Our Environment |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-aseem-malhotra/to-combat-obesity-we-must-alter-our-environment_b_1681784.html |date=18 July 2012 |publisher=Huffpost |access-date=21 December 2021}}{{third-party inline|date=November 2022}} </ref> Malhotra argues that it is unrealistic to expect individuals to avoid cheap, unhealthy, heavily marketed foods and that changes to regulation are needed.<ref name=HuffJuly2012 /> He draws analogies to the regulations on tobacco that were necessary to reduce smoking.<ref name=HuffOct2012 >{{cite web |last1=Malhotra|first1=Aseem|title=How False Advertising by Big Food Is Driving Obesity |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-aseem-malhotra/false-advertising-by-big-food-driving-obesity_b_1968682.html |date=16 October 2012 |publisher=Huffpost |access-date=21 December 2021 }}</ref> He also thinks that vending machines in hospitals selling sweets and junk foods send the wrong message.<ref name=HuffOct2012 /> At the time of the London Olympics in 2012, he criticized the choice of sponsors: writing that "In the context of an obesity epidemic I find it obscene that the Olympics chooses to associate itself with fast food, sugary drinks, chocolate and alcohol."<ref name=BBC2012 /> His campaigns on these topics have brought him recognition and accolades including as a children's food hero in 2013, one of the top 50 BME pioneers in the NHS in 2013, one of London's brightest stars working in Science and Technology in 2014, and one of the top 500 most influential people in the UK in 2016.<ref name="Sustain" /><ref name="HSJ2013BME" /><ref name="EvStd2014supersmart" /><ref name="ST5002016" />


===Pioppi diet and low carb diet advocacy===
===Pioppi diet and low carb diet advocacy===


The established consensus on what constitutes a healthy diet for the general population of adults in the UK is described in the [[NHS]] [[Eatwell plate]] Guidelines.<ref name="Eatwell1">{{cite web |title= Eat Well |date= 26 April 2018|url= https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/|publisher=NHS |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref><ref name="Eatwell2">{{cite web |title= The Eat Well Guide |date= 27 April 2018|url= https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/the-eatwell-guide//|publisher=NHS |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> The recommendation is for a balanced diet consisting of carbohydrates, protein and fat. This should include at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day, meals based on higher fibre starchy foods, plenty of fluids, some protein, some dairy or dairy alternatives and limited amounts of fat, which should be unsaturated. Foods high in fat, salt or sugar, should be not be eaten often and should be eaten only in small amounts. The NHS makes the points that most people are overweight or obese and need to reduce the amount of calories they eat, and most people don't eat enough vegetables or fruit, fibre or fish.{{Overly detailed inline|date=November 2022}} The guidelines also state that people should eat less red meat and less processed meat. The guidelines apply to the general population of adults: people with medical conditions should consult their doctor for individual advice and people with medical or dietary conditions may need to consult a dietician to tailor the guidelines.<ref name="Eatwell1"/>
The established consensus on what constitutes a healthy diet for the general population of adults in the UK is described in the [[NHS]] [[Eatwell plate]] Guidelines.<ref name="Eatwell1">{{cite web |title= Eat Well |date= 26 April 2018|url= https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/|publisher=NHS |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref><ref name="Eatwell2">{{cite web |title= The Eat Well Guide |date= 27 April 2018|url= https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/the-eatwell-guide//|publisher=NHS |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> The recommendation is for a balanced diet consisting of carbohydrates, protein and fat.


Malhotra is a proponent of [[low-carbohydrate diet]]s and in 2017 he co-authored a low carb diet book called the "Pioppi diet",<ref name="BJGPPioppi">{{cite journal |last1=Gerada |first1=Claire |title=Books: The Pioppi diet: A 21 day lifestyle plan |date=September 2017 |journal=British Journal of General Practice |volume=67 |issue=662 |pages=414 |doi=10.3399/bjgp17X692417 |pmid=28860295 |pmc=5569730 }}</ref><ref name="ConvLowCarb">{{cite web |title= Low carb, Paleo or fasting – which diet is best? |url= https://theconversation.com/low-carb-paleo-or-fasting-which-diet-is-best-89685//|publisher=NHS |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> which provides a 21-day eating plan. Malhotra's personal royalties from the book are donated to charity.<ref name="InewsPioppi"/> The book recommends the daily consumption of two to four table spoons of [[extra-virgin olive oil]], a small handful of tree nuts, five to seven portions of fibrous vegetables and low sugar fruits and [[oily fish]] at least three times a week. It advises people to avoid all added sugars, fruit juice, honey, and syrups, packaged refined carbohydrates, in particular anything flour based including all bread, pastries, cakes, biscuits, [[muesli bar]]s, packaged noodles, pasta, [[couscous]] and rice and [[seed oil]]s.<ref name="BBCGoodfood">{{cite news |last1=Torrens |first1=Kerry |title=What is the Pioppi diet? |url=https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/what-pioppi-diet |accessdate=4 December 2018 |publisher=BBC |date=29 August 2018}}</ref> Very dark chocolate, butter, coconut oil, cheese, yoghurt are allowed.<ref name="InewsPioppi" /> The moderate consumption of alcohol is allowed but only within the limits set by the NHS and a maximum of 500g of red meat per week is recommended in line with the recommendations of the World Cancer Research Fund.<ref name="InewsPioppi">{{cite news |last1=Molhatra |first1=Aseem |title=I came up with the low carb diet Tom Watson used to lose seven stone. This is how it works |url=https://inews.co.uk/opinion/comment/i-came-up-with-the-low-carb-diet-tom-watson-used-to-lose-seven-stone-heres-how-it-works/ |accessdate=4 December 2018 |publisher=I news |date=23 September 2018}}</ref> It promotes a higher fat intake with fewer carbs than the NHS reference intakes.<ref name="BBCGoodfood"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Reference intakes explained |url=https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/what-are-reference-intakes-on-food-labels/ |website=NHS UK |date=27 April 2018 |accessdate=4 December 2018}}</ref>{{Overly detailed inline|date=November 2022}}
Malhotra however, is a proponent of [[low-carbohydrate diet]]s and in 2017 he co-authored a low carb diet book called the "Pioppi diet",<ref name="BJGPPioppi">{{cite journal |last1=Gerada |first1=Claire |title=Books: The Pioppi diet: A 21 day lifestyle plan |date=September 2017 |journal=British Journal of General Practice |volume=67 |issue=662 |pages=414 |doi=10.3399/bjgp17X692417 |pmid=28860295 |pmc=5569730 }}</ref><ref name="ConvLowCarb">{{cite web |title= Low carb, Paleo or fasting – which diet is best? |url= https://theconversation.com/low-carb-paleo-or-fasting-which-diet-is-best-89685//|publisher=NHS |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> which provides a 21-day eating plan. Malhotra's royalties from the book are donated to charity.<ref name="InewsPioppi">{{cite news |last1=Molhatra |first1=Aseem |date=23 September 2018 |title=I came up with the low carb diet Tom Watson used to lose seven stone. This is how it works |publisher=I news |url=https://inews.co.uk/opinion/comment/i-came-up-with-the-low-carb-diet-tom-watson-used-to-lose-seven-stone-heres-how-it-works/ |accessdate=4 December 2018}}</ref> It promotes a higher fat intake with fewer carbs than the NHS reference intakes.<ref name="BBCGoodfood">{{cite news |last1=Torrens |first1=Kerry |date=29 August 2018 |title=What is the Pioppi diet? |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/what-pioppi-diet |accessdate=4 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Reference intakes explained |url=https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/what-are-reference-intakes-on-food-labels/ |website=NHS UK |date=27 April 2018 |accessdate=4 December 2018}}</ref> The diet is called [[Pioppi]] after the Italian village recognized as the home of the [[Mediterranean diet]].<ref name="BBCGoodfood" /> The Pioppi diet book has endorsements from then [[Member of Parliament]] (MP) [[Andy Burnham]] and Dame [[Susan Bailey|Sue Bailey]], Chair of the [[Academy of Medical Royal Colleges]].<ref name="BJGPPioppi" /> [[Keith Vaz]], who was the chair of the [[all-party parliamentary group]] on diabetes, promoted it to fellow [[member of parliament|MPs]]<ref name="InewsKV">{{cite news | last1=Gallagher |first1=Paul |title=Keith Vaz tells 100 MPs to take up the Pioppi diet over summer |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/health/keith-vaz-pioppi-diet-mps-challenge-summer-80061 |accessdate=3 September 2021 |publisher=I news |date=21 July 2017}}</ref> and then [[member of parliament|MP]] and Labour Deputy Leader, [[Tom Watson (Labour politician)|Tom Watson]], lost seven stones in less than twelve months by following the diet, putting his [[type 2 diabetes]] into remission in the process.<ref name="InewsTW">{{cite news | last1=Sandhu |first1=Serina |title=Tom Watson says his Type 2 diabetes went into remission after following a strict diet |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/health/tom-watson-lose-weight-pioppi-diet-sugar-free-196373/ |accessdate=3 September 2021 |publisher=I news |date=12 September 2018}}</ref>


⚫
The Pioppi diet was listed as one of the "top 5 worst celeb diets to avoid in 2018" by the [[British Dietetic Association]].<ref name="bda" /> According to the BDA and others, it is a new spin on a [[Low-carbohydrate diet|low-carb]] high fat diet that "hijacked" the term [[Mediterranean diet]]: substituting cauliflower for rice or pizza base and cooking with coconut oil are not parts of the traditional diet of the villagers of Pioppi.<ref name="sbm" /><ref name="bda" /><ref name="BNFPioppi" />
The diet is called [[Pioppi]] after the Italian village recognized as the home of the [[Mediterranean diet]].<ref name="BBCGoodfood"/> The authors use the lifestyles of residents of the town to explain the principles of a healthier Lifestyle and the book also explains how policy changes are needed to change the obesogenic environment.<ref name="BJGPPioppi" /> The Pioppi diet book has endorsements from then [[Member of Parliament]] (MP) [[Andy Burnham]] and Dame [[Susan Bailey|Sue Bailey]], Chair of the [[Academy of Medical Royal Colleges]].<ref name="BJGPPioppi" /> [[Keith Vaz]], who was the chair of the [[all-party parliamentary group]] on diabetes, promoted it to fellow [[member of parliament|MPs]]<ref name="InewsKV">{{cite news | last1=Gallagher |first1=Paul |title=Keith Vaz tells 100 MPs to take up the Pioppi diet over summer |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/health/keith-vaz-pioppi-diet-mps-challenge-summer-80061 |accessdate=3 September 2021 |publisher=I news |date=21 July 2017}}</ref> and then [[member of parliament|MP]] and Labour Deputy Leader, [[Tom Watson (Labour politician)|Tom Watson]], lost seven stones in less than twelve months by following the diet, putting his [[type 2 diabetes]] into remission in the process.<ref name="InewsTW" >{{cite news | last1=Sandhu |first1=Serina |title=Tom Watson says his Type 2 diabetes went into remission after following a strict diet |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/health/tom-watson-lose-weight-pioppi-diet-sugar-free-196373/ |accessdate=3 September 2021 |publisher=I news |date=12 September 2018}}</ref>


The [[British Nutrition Foundation]]'s response to the Pioppi diet explained that there is no single definition of the [[Mediterranean diet]], which is generally considered to be a healthy way of eating.<ref name="BNFPioppi">[https://www.nutrition.org.uk/nutritioninthenews/headlines/pioppidiet.html "BNF response to the Pioppi diet"]. [[British Nutrition Foundation]]. Retrieved 28 November 2018.</ref> However they identified that the advice in the Pioppi diet to cut out starchy carbohydrates is not consistent with a Mediterranean diet which would include bread, pasta and rice. In addition, Mediterranean diets are normally low in saturated fat which is contrary to the advice in the book that people can eat as much saturated fat as they like. [[Rosemary Stanton]] also says that in most traditional Mediterranean diets, bread would be a part of every meal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Should you try the Pioppi diet? |url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/wellbeing/2018/10/12/pioppi-diet-explained/ |accessdate=4 December 2018 |publisher=New Daily |date=12 October 2018}}</ref>
The [[British Nutrition Foundation]]'s response to the Pioppi diet explained that there is no single definition of the [[Mediterranean diet]], which is generally considered to be a healthy way of eating.<ref name="BNFPioppi">[https://www.nutrition.org.uk/nutritioninthenews/headlines/pioppidiet.html "BNF response to the Pioppi diet"]. [[British Nutrition Foundation]]. Retrieved 28 November 2018.</ref> However they identified that the advice in the Pioppi diet to cut out starchy carbohydrates is not consistent with a Mediterranean diet which would include bread, pasta and rice. In addition, Mediterranean diets are normally low in saturated fat which is contrary to the advice in the book that people can eat as much saturated fat as they like. [[Rosemary Stanton]] also says that in most traditional Mediterranean diets, bread would be a part of every meal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Should you try the Pioppi diet? |url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/wellbeing/2018/10/12/pioppi-diet-explained/ |accessdate=4 December 2018 |publisher=New Daily |date=12 October 2018}}</ref>

⚫
The Pioppi diet was listed as one of the "top 5 worst celeb diets to avoid in 2018" by the [[British Dietetic Association]].<ref name=bda>{{cite web |publisher=British Dietetic Association |title=Top 5 worst celeb diets to avoid in 2018 |date=7 December 2017 |url=https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/top-5-worst-celeb-diets-to-avoid-in-2018.html |quote=the authors may well be the only people in the history of the planet who have been to Italy and come back with a diet named after an Italian village that excludes pasta, rice and bread}}</ref> According to the BDA and others, it is a new spin on a [[Low-carbohydrate diet|low-carb]] high fat diet that "hijacked" the term [[Mediterranean diet]]: substituting cauliflower for rice or pizza base and cooking with coconut oil are not parts of the traditional diet of the villagers of Pioppi.<ref name="sbm" /><ref name=bda /><ref name="BNFPioppi" />


===Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Statins===
===Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Statins===


⚫
Malhotra believes that [[saturated fat]] is part of a healthy diet: he is known to put a tablespoon of butter and coconut oil into his coffee.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Anahad |date=23 August 2016 |url=https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/08/23/an-unconventional-cardiologist-promotes-a-high-fat-diet/ |title=An Unconventional Cardiologist Promotes a High-Fat Diet |work= [[The New York Times]] |access-date=28 November 2018}}</ref> He has attacked the [[Saturated fat#Dietary recommendations|standard advice on saturated fat consumption]] to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.<ref name="BMJ2015" />
The UK [[National Health Service]] website on healthy eating states that "Too much fat in your diet, especially saturated fats, can raise your cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease".<ref name="NHSfats">{{cite web | title=Fat: the facts |date= 27 April 2018 |url= https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/different-fats-nutrition/ |publisher=NHS |access-date=12 September 2021}}</ref> This advice is part of a medical and dietary mainstream consensus about [[Saturated fat#Dietary recommendations|saturated fat]] shared with the [[World Health Organization]]<ref>{{cite book|author= Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation|year= 2003|series= WHO Technical Report Series|volume= 916|title= Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases|location= Geneva|isbn= 978-9241209168|issn= 0512-3054|url=https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/trs916/en/gsfao_overall.pdf|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131031114143/http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/trs916/en/gsfao_overall.pdf|archive-date= 31 October 2013}} page 56 table 6,</ref> and the health authorities of many other nations.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/healthy-eating-recommendations/make-it-a-habit-to-eat-vegetables-fruit-whole-grains-and-protein-foods/choosing-foods-with-healthy-fats/ | title = Choosing foods with healthy fats | publisher = [[Health Canada]] | access-date = 12 September 2021| date = 10 October 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/resources/DGA_Cut-Down-On-Saturated-Fats.pdf | title = Cut Down on Saturated Fats | publisher = [[United States Department of Health and Human Services]] | access-date = 12 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/fat-salt-sugars-and-alcohol/fat | title = Fat | publisher = Australia's [[National Health and Medical Research Council]] and [[Department of Health and Ageing]] | access-date = 12 September 2021| date = 24 September 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/458/Getting%20the%20Fats%20Right | title = Getting the Fats Right! | publisher = Singapore's [[Ministry of Health (Singapore)|Ministry of Health]] | access-date = 12 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nhp.gov.in/healthlyliving/healthy-diet | title = Health Diet | publisher = India's [[Ministry of Health and Family Welfare]] | access-date = 12 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/food-activity-and-sleep/healthy-eating/making-healthier-food-choices | title = Making healthier food choices | publisher = New Zealand's [[Ministry of Health (New Zealand)|Ministry of Health]] | access-date = 12 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/100023.html | title = Know More about Fat | publisher = Hong Kong's [[Department of Health (Hong Kong)|Department of Health]] | access-date = 12 September 2021}}</ref> Current guidelines for doctors from the UK [[National Institute for Health and Care Excellence]] for reduction of the risk of cardiovascular disease include giving advice on lifestyle changes before prescribing statins.<ref name="NICEstatins">{{cite web |title=Cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification | publisher=National Institute for Health and Care Excellence | url=https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg181/chapter/1-Recommendations#lipid-modification-therapy-for-the-primary-and-secondary-prevention-of-cvd-2 | date=27 September 2016 | access-date=12 September 2021 }}</ref> The UK [[National Health Service]] website explains to patients that the lifestyle changes that doctors will recommend before prescribing statins include eating a healthy diet, exercising, stopping smoking, limiting alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight.<ref name="NHSstatins">{{cite web |title=Statins |date=3 October 2018 |url=https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/statins/ | publisher=NHS |access-date=12 September 2021 }}</ref> Prof Mark Baker, Director of the Centre for Guidelines at [[NICE]], stated that the use of statins in people with established heart disease was not controversial and expanding the prescription of statins to people with a 10% risk of disease was recent but based on robust evidence.<ref name="SMC2017"/>{{Overly detailed inline|date=November 2022}}

⚫
Malhotra believes that [[saturated fat]] is part of a healthy diet: he is known to put a tablespoon of butter and coconut oil into his coffee.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Anahad |date=23 August 2016 |url=https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/08/23/an-unconventional-cardiologist-promotes-a-high-fat-diet/ |title=An Unconventional Cardiologist Promotes a High-Fat Diet |work= [[The New York Times]] |access-date=28 November 2018}}</ref> He has attacked the [[Saturated fat#Dietary recommendations|standard advice on saturated fat consumption]] to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.<ref name="BMJ2015"/>
Malhotra instead directs his attention to the effects of [[sugar]] and in particular to its role in [[diabetes]].<ref name="BMJ2015">{{cite journal|last1=Malhotra|first1=Aseem|title=Saturated fat is not the major issue|journal=British Medical Journal|date=22 October 2013|volume=347|page=f6340|url=http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f6340|accessdate=13 May 2015|doi=10.1136/bmj.f6340|pmid=24149521|s2cid=35280596}}</ref>
Malhotra instead directs his attention to the effects of [[sugar]] and in particular to its role in [[diabetes]].<ref name="BMJ2015">{{cite journal|last1=Malhotra|first1=Aseem|title=Saturated fat is not the major issue|journal=British Medical Journal|date=22 October 2013|volume=347|page=f6340|url=http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f6340|accessdate=13 May 2015|doi=10.1136/bmj.f6340|pmid=24149521|s2cid=35280596}}</ref>


Line 72: Line 68:
In 2020 during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and before there were any approved vaccines for COVID-19, Malhotra published a book<ref name="EuropeanScientist">{{cite news|last1=Oury |first1=Jean-Paul |date=28 August 2020 |title=Dr. Aseem Malhotra : The best defense against Coronavirus is optimising metabolic health |publisher=European Scientist |url= https://www.europeanscientist.com/en/editors-corner/dr-aseem-malhotra-the-best-vaccine-against-coronavirus-is-optimising-metabolic-health/ |access-date=6 October 2021 }}</ref> claiming that following his dietary advice could grant "metabolic optimization" which would, in 21 days, decrease the risk of viral infection. [[David Gorski]] criticized the book<ref name=sbm /> because the biggest single risk factor for COVID-19 infection is age, which people cannot change. Gorski said that while Malhotra had a germ of a good point and that it was undeniable that losing weight for someone who is obese would reduce their risk of complications, the claims about the book were massively exaggerated and there was no specific evidence for the impact of lifestyle recommendations on the risk of COVID-19 or that Malhotra's version of a healthy diet was better or worse than any other healthy lifestyle recommendation. Gorski was also concerned that telling people that they should be in control of their susceptibility to disease may have an element of [[victim blaming]] because that shifts responsibility for disease onto individuals, many of whom are unable to follow the kind of diet Malhotra advocates.<ref name=sbm>{{cite web |publisher=[[Science-Based Medicine]] |author=David Gorski |title=Can 'optimizing your metabolism' through diet prevent or cure COVID-19? |date=31 August 2020 |url=https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/can-optimizing-your-metabolism-through-diet-prevent-or-cure-covid-19/}}</ref>
In 2020 during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and before there were any approved vaccines for COVID-19, Malhotra published a book<ref name="EuropeanScientist">{{cite news|last1=Oury |first1=Jean-Paul |date=28 August 2020 |title=Dr. Aseem Malhotra : The best defense against Coronavirus is optimising metabolic health |publisher=European Scientist |url= https://www.europeanscientist.com/en/editors-corner/dr-aseem-malhotra-the-best-vaccine-against-coronavirus-is-optimising-metabolic-health/ |access-date=6 October 2021 }}</ref> claiming that following his dietary advice could grant "metabolic optimization" which would, in 21 days, decrease the risk of viral infection. [[David Gorski]] criticized the book<ref name=sbm /> because the biggest single risk factor for COVID-19 infection is age, which people cannot change. Gorski said that while Malhotra had a germ of a good point and that it was undeniable that losing weight for someone who is obese would reduce their risk of complications, the claims about the book were massively exaggerated and there was no specific evidence for the impact of lifestyle recommendations on the risk of COVID-19 or that Malhotra's version of a healthy diet was better or worse than any other healthy lifestyle recommendation. Gorski was also concerned that telling people that they should be in control of their susceptibility to disease may have an element of [[victim blaming]] because that shifts responsibility for disease onto individuals, many of whom are unable to follow the kind of diet Malhotra advocates.<ref name=sbm>{{cite web |publisher=[[Science-Based Medicine]] |author=David Gorski |title=Can 'optimizing your metabolism' through diet prevent or cure COVID-19? |date=31 August 2020 |url=https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/can-optimizing-your-metabolism-through-diet-prevent-or-cure-covid-19/}}</ref>


In November 2021, Malhotra appeared on [[GB News]] to discuss an abstract for an academic poster published by [[Steven Gundry]] and which the [[American Heart Association]] had warned may contain "potential errors". Malhotra claimed that the abstract supported "a significantly increased risk from 11% at five years, the risk of heart attack, to 25%." after taking mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. [[Full Fact]] warned that "Serious concerns have been raised as to the quality of the research".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Panjwani |first1=Abbas |title=Concerns raised about legitimacy of research linking vaccines and heart attacks |url=https://fullfact.org/health/covid-vaccines-heart-disease/ |website=Full Fact |language=en |date=30 November 2021}}</ref>
Malhotra initially campaigning in favour of taking the COVID vaccine,<ref name=":0" /> but later campaigned against the use of COVID [[mRNA vaccines]]<ref name=":1" /> contrary to the available evidence.<ref name=":2" /> In November 2021, Malhotra appeared on [[GB News]] to discuss an abstract for an academic poster published by [[Steven Gundry]] and which the [[American Heart Association]] had warned may contain "potential errors". Malhotra claimed that the abstract supported "a significantly increased risk from 11% at five years, the risk of heart attack, to 25%." after taking mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. [[Full Fact]] warned that "Serious concerns have been raised as to the quality of the research".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Panjwani |first1=Abbas |title=Concerns raised about legitimacy of research linking vaccines and heart attacks |url=https://fullfact.org/health/covid-vaccines-heart-disease/ |website=Full Fact |language=en |date=30 November 2021}}</ref>


In September 2022, Malhotra publicly campaigned against the use of COVID mRNA vaccines.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chumley|first=Cheryl|date=27 September 2022|title=Pro-COVID-19 vaccine doc calls for stop to shots|work=Washington Times|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/sep/27/pro-covid-19-shot-doc-calls-stop-shots/|url-status=live|access-date=6 October 2022}}</ref> An AFP Factcheck warned of his claims that "This is false; experts say his research misleads on the risks of vaccination by cherry-picking evidence and relying on flawed studies, and public health authorities agree the benefits of the shots outweigh the risks."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Goldhamer|first=Marisha|date=14 October 2022|title=UK cardiologist misleads on Covid-19 vaccine safety|work=AFP|url=https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.32L483D|url-status=live|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>
In September 2022, Malhotra publicly campaigned against the use of COVID mRNA vaccines.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chumley|first=Cheryl|date=27 September 2022|title=Pro-COVID-19 vaccine doc calls for stop to shots|work=Washington Times|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/sep/27/pro-covid-19-shot-doc-calls-stop-shots/|url-status=live|access-date=6 October 2022}}</ref> An AFP Factcheck warned of his claims that "This is false; experts say his research misleads on the risks of vaccination by cherry-picking evidence and relying on flawed studies, and public health authorities agree the benefits of the shots outweigh the risks."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Goldhamer|first=Marisha|date=14 October 2022|title=UK cardiologist misleads on Covid-19 vaccine safety|work=AFP|url=https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.32L483D|url-status=live|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

Revision as of 15:12, 16 November 2022

Aseem Malhotra
Born1977 (age 46–47)
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Cardiologist, writer
Websitedoctoraseem.com

Aseem Malhotra is a controversial[1] British cardiologist,[2] public health campaigner,[3] author of several books, and writer of newspaper articles. He campaigns for people to reduce sugar in their diet,[4] promotes a low-carb, high-fat diet,[5] and encourages the reduction of medical overprescribing.[6] He was the first science director of Action on Sugar in 2014.[7] He has been listed as one of The Sunday Times 500 most influential people[4] and was twice recognized as one of the top fifty black and minority ethnic community member pioneers in the UK's National Health Service by the Health Service Journal.[8][6] Malhotra is co-author of a book called The Pioppi Diet.[9]

However, his views on diet and health have been criticized by the British Heart Foundation as "misleading and wrong", and his public questioning of the need ever to use statins has been condemned as a danger to public health.[10] His "Pioppi diet" was named by the British Dietetic Association as one of the "top 5 worst celeb diets to avoid in 2018".[5] His work has been described as "dodgy science"[11] by authors highlighting his academic work has previously ben found to be quoting flawed data.[12] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Malhotra published a book called The 21-Day Immunity Plan,[13] which claims that following the diet can quickly help people reduce their risk from the virus; such claims are not backed by medical research evidence.[2] Despite initially campaigning for the COVID vaccine,[14] he later campaigned against the use of COVID mRNA vaccines[15] contrary to the available evidence.[16]

Biography

Early Influences

Malhotra was born in New Delhi in India in October 1977. He was the younger son of two doctors: Kailash Chand and Anisha Malhotra.[17] The family moved to Britain in 1978 when his father had a clinical attachment at Alder Hey Hospital and was studying for a Diploma in Tropical Medicine at Liverpool University.[18] Both parents became General Practitioners in Ashton-under-Lyme, Greater Manchester. In 1988 Malhotra's brother Amit, who was two years older than Malhotra and had been born with Down's syndrome,[19] died of heart failure aged thirteen. This inspired Malhotra with the ambition to become a cardiologist.[7] Malhotra was educated at Manchester Grammar School.[7] Malhotra's father went on to become the first Asian to be elected as honorary vice-president and deputy chair of the council of the British Medical Association and received an O.B.E for long-standing service to the NHS.[20] Malhotra's mother's religious faith was important to her[17] and Malhotra observed that she fasted weekly by only consuming one meal on a fast day.[21] He was quoted later as claiming his mother's vegetarian diet contributed to her 'premature and painful death' and said he hoped "we can learn that much of these ills are preventable."[21]

Career

Malhotra studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and graduated in 2001.[22] He spent his foundation years as a doctor in Scotland, at Wishaw General Hospital then at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and finally at Liberton Hospital which specialises in care of the elderly.[22] He completed his post-graduate medical diploma during two years working at the Manchester Royal Infirmary.[22] He held specialist registrar positions at St James's University Hospital in Leeds and Blackpool Victoria Hospital.[22]

Malhotra has held cardiology posts with the UK National Health Service as a cardiology specialist registrar at Harefield Hospital,[22][23] at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead[22] and as an Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at Frimley Park Hospital.[24][25] He is a former Consultant Clinical Associate to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges[24] and is a visiting professor at Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Salvador, Brazil.[26][27] In 2015 he was appointed as a trustee of the King's Fund and was reappointed for a further three years in 2018.[3][28]

In addition to his work as a cardiologist, he has been described as a "highly regarded public health campaigner" and an anti-obesity expert[3] who is "passionate about tackling the companies and policies responsible for creating ... an obesogenic environment".[29] Malhotra explains that his professional work has motivated his public health campaigning:" ..having seen the unspeakable suffering caused by diet-related diseases, I would much rather these patients did not develop them in the first place."[30] In 2013 he was recognized in the inaugural list of the top 50 BME Pioneers in the NHS Health Service Journal, for his research on sugar rich diets and obesity and cardio-vascular disease and for his public health campaigns, including profit-making of big corporations at the expense of public health, unhealthy hospital meals and sale of junk food in hospitals [8] The judges commented that "Yes. He challenges people".[8] In 2014 he was recognized for a second year running in the Health Services Journal top 50 BME Pioneers: described by the judges as "An upcoming star", the entry recognized that he had ignited a debate about over-investigation, over-diagnosis and overmedication and brought media attention to the BMJ's "Too much medicine" campaign.[6]

At the end of 2013, Malhotra won the accolade of being named a "Food Hero" for the Children's Food Campaign for his campaigning against junk food being marketed to children and sugar filled vending machines in hospitals.[29] When Action on Sugar was founded in 2014, he was its first Science Director.[7] Later in that year, his campaigning on sugar led to his being featured in the Evening Standard as being one of ten of London's brightest stars working in science and technology.[31] In 2018 the Guardian's health correspondent, Sarah Boseley, labelled Malhotra as a "dissident scientist", "statin critic" and "cholesterol sceptic".[10] In 2021, Malhotra was appointed chair of the charity The Public Health Collaboration.[27][32]

Public health campaigns and misinformation

Reducing the consumption of sugar and junk foods

Malhotra campaigns about reducing the consumption of sugar and junk foods, particularly in the diet of children.[33] Malhotra argues that it is unrealistic to expect individuals to avoid cheap, unhealthy, heavily marketed foods and that changes to regulation are needed.[33] He draws analogies to the regulations on tobacco that were necessary to reduce smoking.[34] He also thinks that vending machines in hospitals selling sweets and junk foods send the wrong message.[34] At the time of the London Olympics in 2012, he criticized the choice of sponsors: writing that "In the context of an obesity epidemic I find it obscene that the Olympics chooses to associate itself with fast food, sugary drinks, chocolate and alcohol."[30] His campaigns on these topics have brought him recognition and accolades including as a children's food hero in 2013, one of the top 50 BME pioneers in the NHS in 2013, one of London's brightest stars working in Science and Technology in 2014, and one of the top 500 most influential people in the UK in 2016.[29][8][31][4]

Pioppi diet and low carb diet advocacy

The established consensus on what constitutes a healthy diet for the general population of adults in the UK is described in the NHS Eatwell plate Guidelines.[35][36] The recommendation is for a balanced diet consisting of carbohydrates, protein and fat.

Malhotra however, is a proponent of low-carbohydrate diets and in 2017 he co-authored a low carb diet book called the "Pioppi diet",[37][38] which provides a 21-day eating plan. Malhotra's royalties from the book are donated to charity.[39] It promotes a higher fat intake with fewer carbs than the NHS reference intakes.[40][41] The diet is called Pioppi after the Italian village recognized as the home of the Mediterranean diet.[40] The Pioppi diet book has endorsements from then Member of Parliament (MP) Andy Burnham and Dame Sue Bailey, Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.[37] Keith Vaz, who was the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on diabetes, promoted it to fellow MPs[42] and then MP and Labour Deputy Leader, Tom Watson, lost seven stones in less than twelve months by following the diet, putting his type 2 diabetes into remission in the process.[43]

The Pioppi diet was listed as one of the "top 5 worst celeb diets to avoid in 2018" by the British Dietetic Association.[5] According to the BDA and others, it is a new spin on a low-carb high fat diet that "hijacked" the term Mediterranean diet: substituting cauliflower for rice or pizza base and cooking with coconut oil are not parts of the traditional diet of the villagers of Pioppi.[2][5][44]

The British Nutrition Foundation's response to the Pioppi diet explained that there is no single definition of the Mediterranean diet, which is generally considered to be a healthy way of eating.[44] However they identified that the advice in the Pioppi diet to cut out starchy carbohydrates is not consistent with a Mediterranean diet which would include bread, pasta and rice. In addition, Mediterranean diets are normally low in saturated fat which is contrary to the advice in the book that people can eat as much saturated fat as they like. Rosemary Stanton also says that in most traditional Mediterranean diets, bread would be a part of every meal.[45]

Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Statins

Malhotra believes that saturated fat is part of a healthy diet: he is known to put a tablespoon of butter and coconut oil into his coffee.[46] He has attacked the standard advice on saturated fat consumption to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.[47] Malhotra instead directs his attention to the effects of sugar and in particular to its role in diabetes.[47]

In 2017 Malhotra wrote an opinion piece for the British Journal of Sports Medicine which made the claim that saturated fat did "not clog the arteries" and that heart disease can be cured with a daily walk and "eating real food".[10] The British Heart Foundation criticised these "misleading and wrong" claims and several researchers took issue with the methodology of the report on which Malhotra based his claims.[10][48][49] Prof Louis Levy, the head of nutrition science at Public Health England says "There is good evidence that a high intake of saturated fat increases your risk of heart disease".[10]

Malhotra 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.[47] He has questioned the worth of statins, saying they may not be of benefit to anybody.[10] With Robert H. Lustig and Maryanne Demasi, Malhotra authored a 2017 article in The Pharmaceutical Journal which disputes the Lipid hypothesis, the link between blood cholesterol levels and occurrence of heart disease.[50] The article was criticized by two medical experts, for being based on cherry-picked science and for creating the impression that most doctors don't believe that diet and exercise are as important as drugs, and that drugs and lifestyle changes are an either/or option.[51] Cardiologist Tim Chico commented that "high cholesterol has been proven beyond all doubt to contribute to coronary artery disease and heart attack ... to say the cholesterol hypothesis is dead is simply incorrect."[51] Rory Collins, an Oxford medical professor, has also sharply criticised pronouncements about statins, and accused Malhotra of endangering lives.[10] Rory Collins has been quoted as saying that scare stories about statins could be as dangerous to public health as Andrew Wakefield's bogus claims about vaccination and autism.[10]

Too Much Medicine

Malhotra has stated that over-diagnosis and over-treatment is "the greatest threat to our healthcare system".[52] He has also held that in the UK at least £2bn is wasted each year on unnecessary tests and treatment.[53] He co-ordinated the Too Much Medicine campaign by the BMJ and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.[27] His claims are supported by Sir Richard Thompson a past president of the Royal College of Physicians.[54]

COVID-19

In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and before there were any approved vaccines for COVID-19, Malhotra published a book[13] claiming that following his dietary advice could grant "metabolic optimization" which would, in 21 days, decrease the risk of viral infection. David Gorski criticized the book[2] because the biggest single risk factor for COVID-19 infection is age, which people cannot change. Gorski said that while Malhotra had a germ of a good point and that it was undeniable that losing weight for someone who is obese would reduce their risk of complications, the claims about the book were massively exaggerated and there was no specific evidence for the impact of lifestyle recommendations on the risk of COVID-19 or that Malhotra's version of a healthy diet was better or worse than any other healthy lifestyle recommendation. Gorski was also concerned that telling people that they should be in control of their susceptibility to disease may have an element of victim blaming because that shifts responsibility for disease onto individuals, many of whom are unable to follow the kind of diet Malhotra advocates.[2]

Malhotra initially campaigning in favour of taking the COVID vaccine,[14] but later campaigned against the use of COVID mRNA vaccines[15] contrary to the available evidence.[16] In November 2021, Malhotra appeared on GB News to discuss an abstract for an academic poster published by Steven Gundry and which the American Heart Association had warned may contain "potential errors". Malhotra claimed that the abstract supported "a significantly increased risk from 11% at five years, the risk of heart attack, to 25%." after taking mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. Full Fact warned that "Serious concerns have been raised as to the quality of the research".[55]

In September 2022, Malhotra publicly campaigned against the use of COVID mRNA vaccines.[56] An AFP Factcheck warned of his claims that "This is false; experts say his research misleads on the risks of vaccination by cherry-picking evidence and relying on flawed studies, and public health authorities agree the benefits of the shots outweigh the risks."[57]

Selected bibliography

Books

  • The Pioppi Diet: A 21-Day Lifestyle Plan (with Donal O'Neill), Penguin Books, 2017 ISBN 9781405932639
  • The 21-Day Immunity Plan, Yellow Kite, 2020 ISBN 9781529349672
  • A Statin-Free Life: A revolutionary life plan for tackling heart disease - without the use of statins, Hodder & Stoughton, 2021 ISBN 9781529354102

References

  1. ^ Orac (10 October 2022). "Dr. Asseem Malhotra engages in massive projection about COVID-19 "misinformation"". RESPECTFUL INSOLENCE. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e David Gorski (31 August 2020). "Can 'optimizing your metabolism' through diet prevent or cure COVID-19?". Science-Based Medicine.
  3. ^ a b c "The King's Fund welcomes Dr Aseem Malhotra as a new trustee". Kings Fund. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2021.[unreliable source?]
  4. ^ a b c "Britain's 500 Most Influential". Sunday Times. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d "Top 5 worst celeb diets to avoid in 2018". British Dietetic Association. 7 December 2017. the authors may well be the only people in the history of the planet who have been to Italy and come back with a diet named after an Italian village that excludes pasta, rice and bread
  6. ^ a b c Gbadamosi, Nosmot; Paton, Nic (6 November 2014). "HSJ BME Pioneers 2014". Health Services Journal. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d O'Hara, Mary (18 November 2015). "'We need to make people get angry about sugar' says cardiologist campaigner | Mary O'Hara". The Guardian.
  8. ^ a b c d Taylor, Jennifer (27 November 2013). "HSJ BME Pioneers 2013". Health Services Journal. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  9. ^ Mellor, Duane. (2017). "Dietitians like me don't take the Pioppi Diet seriously". The Spectator. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Boseley S (30 October 2018). "Butter nonsense: the rise of the cholesterol deniers". The Guardian.
  11. ^ Spectator, The (27 April 2015). "The dodgy science behind the claim that exercise doesn't help you lose weight". The Spectator. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  12. ^ Godlee, Fiona (15 May 2014). "Adverse effects of statins". BMJ. 348: g3306. doi:10.1136/bmj.g3306. ISSN 1756-1833. PMID 25134141.
  13. ^ a b Oury, Jean-Paul (28 August 2020). "Dr. Aseem Malhotra : The best defense against Coronavirus is optimising metabolic health". European Scientist. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Dr. Aseem Malhotra who promoted COVID-19 vaccine on TV calls for its immediate suspension to investigate serious side effects". AOSIS. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  15. ^ a b Chumley, Cheryl (27 September 2022). "Pro-COVID-19 vaccine doc calls for stop to shots". Washington Times. Retrieved 6 October 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ a b "Article by cardiologist Aseem Malhotra made unsupported claims about the benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccination". Health Feedback. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  17. ^ a b Chand, Kailash (3 December 2018). "Obituary: Dr Anisha Malhotra – dedicated GP, wife and mother". Pulse Today.
  18. ^ Higgins, Adam (26 July 2021). "Tributes to Former Thameside GP and NHS Campaigner who has died". Thameside Reporter.
  19. ^ Trueland, Jennifer (2 August 2021). "Doctors mourn passing of unique BMA leader". BMA.
  20. ^ Quach, Georgina (27 July 2021). "Respected GP and fearless defender of NHS dies at 73". The Guardian.
  21. ^ a b Gallagher, Paul (27 February 2019). "NHS cardiologist says mother's vegetarian diet contributed to premature and painful death". INews.
  22. ^ a b c d e f "Aseem Malhotra". University of Edinburgh. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  23. ^ "Lose weight and live longer: Dr Aseem Malhotra reveals the secrets of the world's healthiest village". Telegraph. 25 June 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  24. ^ a b Malhotra, A; Noakes, T; Phinney, S (August 2015). "It is time to bust the myth of physical inactivity and obesity: you cannot outrun a bad diet". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 49 (15): 967–968. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2015-094911. PMID 25904145. S2CID 31361420.
  25. ^ Hobbs, FD Richard; Banach, Maciej; Mikhailidis, Dimitri P.; Malhotra, Aseem; Capewell, Simon (14 January 2016). "Is statin-modified reduction in lipids the most important preventive therapy for cardiovascular disease? A pro/con debate". BMC Medicine. 14 (1): 4. doi:10.1186/s12916-016-0550-5. PMC 4714436. PMID 26769594.
  26. ^ "Bahiana no The Guardian". Bahiana University. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  27. ^ a b c "Aseem Malhotra (Chair)". Public Health Collaboration. 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  28. ^ Trustee's Annual report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 December 2018 (PDF) (Report). Kings Fund. 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  29. ^ a b c Clarke, Malcolm (20 December 2013). "Children's Food Campaign". Sustain. Retrieved 1 September 2021.[unreliable source?]
  30. ^ a b Malhotra, Aseem (9 July 2012). "Viewpoint: Ban junk food sponsors from Olympic sports". BBC. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  31. ^ a b Urwin, Rosamund (16 October 2014). "The super smart set: 10 of London's clever clogs and big brains". Evening Standard. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  32. ^ Gallagher, Paul (23 August 2021). "Doctors create rival to 'failing' Public Health England in bid to boost nation's health". INews. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  33. ^ a b Malhotra, Aseem (18 July 2012). "To Combat Obesity We Must Alter Our Environment". Huffpost. Retrieved 21 December 2021.[third-party source needed]
  34. ^ a b Malhotra, Aseem (16 October 2012). "How False Advertising by Big Food Is Driving Obesity". Huffpost. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  35. ^ "Eat Well". NHS. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  36. ^ "The Eat Well Guide". NHS. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  37. ^ a b Gerada, Claire (September 2017). "Books: The Pioppi diet: A 21 day lifestyle plan". British Journal of General Practice. 67 (662): 414. doi:10.3399/bjgp17X692417. PMC 5569730. PMID 28860295.
  38. ^ "Low carb, Paleo or fasting – which diet is best?". NHS. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  39. ^ Molhatra, Aseem (23 September 2018). "I came up with the low carb diet Tom Watson used to lose seven stone. This is how it works". I news. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  40. ^ a b Torrens, Kerry (29 August 2018). "What is the Pioppi diet?". BBC. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  41. ^ "Reference intakes explained". NHS UK. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  42. ^ Gallagher, Paul (21 July 2017). "Keith Vaz tells 100 MPs to take up the Pioppi diet over summer". I news. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  43. ^ Sandhu, Serina (12 September 2018). "Tom Watson says his Type 2 diabetes went into remission after following a strict diet". I news. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
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  45. ^ "Should you try the Pioppi diet?". New Daily. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  46. ^ O'Connor, Anahad (23 August 2016). "An Unconventional Cardiologist Promotes a High-Fat Diet". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  47. ^ a b c Malhotra, Aseem (22 October 2013). "Saturated fat is not the major issue". British Medical Journal. 347: f6340. doi:10.1136/bmj.f6340. PMID 24149521. S2CID 35280596. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
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  49. ^ Mole, Beth (26 April 2017). "Experts: Headline-grabbing editorial on saturated fats "bizarre," "misleading"". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 13 May 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  50. ^ Demasi, M; Lustig R. H; Malhotra A. (2017). The cholesterol and calorie hypotheses are both dead — it is time to focus on the real culprit: insulin resistance. The Pharmaceutical Journal doi:10.1211/CP.2017.20203046.
  51. ^ a b "Expert reaction to new report on statins and the cholesterol hypothesis". Science Media Centre. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  52. ^ "'Over-treating' patients is wasteful, unnecessary and can cause them harm, campaign claims". Independent. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  53. ^ "Is the failure of health regulation damaging our well-being?". Guardian. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  54. ^ "Health experts are calling for a 'Chilcot-style inquiry' into excess prescription drug deaths". I news. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  55. ^ Panjwani, Abbas (30 November 2021). "Concerns raised about legitimacy of research linking vaccines and heart attacks". Full Fact.
  56. ^ Chumley, Cheryl (27 September 2022). "Pro-COVID-19 vaccine doc calls for stop to shots". Washington Times. Retrieved 6 October 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  57. ^ Goldhamer, Marisha (14 October 2022). "UK cardiologist misleads on Covid-19 vaccine safety". AFP. Retrieved 23 October 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links

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