The authors of the report have also accused public health bodies of working with the food and drink industries to promote high-carbohydrate diets which are ‘deeply flawed’.
Public Health Collaboration founding member and consultant cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra said diets promoting low fat foods had resulted in ‘devastating consequences for public health.
He added: “The current Eatwell Guide from Public Health England is in my view more like a metabolic timebomb than a dietary pattern conducive for good health.
“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. It’s now truly time to bring back the fat.”
The report recommends a diet including full-fat dairy to protect against heart disease and good for people suffering with type 2 diabetes, and that people should stop counting calories.
It also warned against sugar and consumption of a large amount of carbohydrates.
But Public Health England (PHE) have argued against the recommendations in the report, labelling them as ‘irresponsible’.
PHE chief nutritionist Dr Alison Tedstone said: “In the face of all of the evidence, calling for people to eat more fat, cut out carbs and ignore calories is irresponsible.
“Unlike this opinion piece, our independent experts review all the available evidence – often thousands of scientific papers – run full-scale consultations and go to great lengths to ensure no bias.”
