Brain vs stomach: why dieting is so hard | Dean Burnett

The debate over whether fat is actually bad for our health overlooks a more fundamental issue: if we know something is bad for us, why can't we stop eating it? The weird relationship between our brains and digestive systems holds the answer

A recent report by the National Obesity Forum stated that official advice about low-fat diets is wrong. As ever, there's now heated debate over how valid/accurate this claim is. But let's step back a moment and ask a revealing question: why do official government dietary guidelines even exist? Why are they necessary?

From an entirely logical position, eating food fulfils several requirements. It provides the energy to do things, helps us build up stores of energy for when needed, and provides the materials required to build and maintain our bodies. Therefore, the human body requires a regular intake of nutrients, vitamins and calories to maintain day-to-day functioning. As a result, the human body has developed an intricate digestive system to monitor and regulate our food intake.