Hello from Lund:

I lived in Alert Bay as a child some 55 yrs. ago and can still remember our old native friend, Marion Meyers, with her pail of smelly oolichan goo.

I was really inspired by your documentary on the news this morning and think you could have produced it like the TV production "The week the women left town".

I live on the West Coast of BC and already buy lots of fish, albeit in Safeway, and sometimes in cans. I presently eat tons of veggies and could certainly give up starches and sugar for the rest of my life in exchange for bacon & eggs & cream! This food plan sounds a lot like Dr. Atkins. I am concerned, though, as I also eat a lot of starchy vegetables like winter squash and yams...legumes such as split pea soup and all types of beans (navy, kidney, white northern, garbanzo, etc.) Can anyone advise me if I would need to give up these legumes in order to make this particular diet work?

In any case, thank you for sharing "My Big Fat Diet" with the public....I am anxious to begin, myself.

laara nicols

I'm looking forward to watching this program. I've been a proponent of low carb diets (Atkins in particular) for five years. I lost a total of 45lbs and have kept it off.

Even though I've been so successful following Atkins, do you think my family members and friends listen to me? They're all so caught up in the low fat mentality, that they refuse to believe fat is not what makes us fat!

They believe it's too hard to give up Tim Horton doughnuts and great huge plates of pasta. Personally, I'd rather control what I eat than take medications for the rest of my life while waddling around in self pity.

A great book to read is Good Calories Bad Calories by Gary Taubes.

I've been watching the ads for this and getting madder each time they run. I'm a diabetic, reasonably informed about food. Cauliflower is mainly carbohydrate, just not the starch type. Lettuce as in the 'salad without breadcrumbs' is most certainly carbohydrate. A man is shown making a sandwich, the starch type of carbohydrate. Presumbably this is making many doctors and dieticians mad too. Maybe the film will give us a new definition of 'carbohydrate', but cbc should refrain from using 'B-S' to advertise programs.

The benefits of eating a traditional diet have been known for a long time. Extensive resrearch has been done on this topic in the 1920's and 1930's by renowned researcher Dr. Weston A. Price. The Research in his book "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration" clearly shows that when idegineous peoples from around the world adopted a modern(western diet), at the expense of there traditional fare they suffered from ill health and disease. Even though his research is 90 years old and endorsed by some of the greatest scientists of the 20th century his research has been ignored and condemed by modern medicine, governments and "big food".

Dr. Wortman should be applauded as he is sticking his neck out and re enforcing what we ahould have already learned from the valuable research of Dr. Price.

So, Dr. Atkins wasn't wrong afterall. A number of years ago I lost 70 lbs in approx. 4 months on the Atkins diet of lots of protein and fat - no starch or sugar. I had never felt better in my life. No, it wasn't because I looked better - I felt better and had a lot more energy. The diet was heavily criticized by doctors and dieticians at the time (I was made to feel if I continued with this diet I would drop dead of a heart attach at any moment because of the high fat content) and now surprise, surprise.

This program is misleading when it states that a person diabetes is cured. First of all there are two types of diabetes, Type1 and Type2. Type 1 cannot be cured, type1's are insulin dependant for life. Type 2 is the type that is being talked about in this program and you are not cured from type 2 but you can gain control over it.

Just a few comments on this discussion of our traditional diet (& lifestyle):

- the energy expenditure of our ancestors was necessarily very high in order to procure, prepare, and store their foods as compared to our largely sedentary lifestyle today- let's promote physical activity as well!!

- there are many indigenous cultures whose diets included starchy vegetables and plants, eg. Iroquois Three Sisters (corn, beans and squash), Pima of southwestern US diet was almost 80% carbohydrate etc. Perhaps it is not just a low carb diet as such but the return to the traditional diet of a particular cultural group which would also validate one's culture and traditions that improves health. Woudl be interesting to see this study replicated in communities whose traditional diets did include higher carbohydrate, low glycemic index foods.

- If we are truly to attempt a return to traditional food and lifestyle, (not including whipped cream and bacon) this would require support from varying levels of government from Chiefs and council to Federal- to encourage and promote things like community freezers and gardens, compensation for hunters and fishermen etc. to allow sharing of traditional foods harvested locally; education in traditional foodways by local elders knowledgeable in their traditions, etc.; revision of Provincial and Federal regulations which limit access to traditional foods by Aboriginals etc. Let's dream big!!

Perhaps Rosina should watch the documentary first - the information on the diet clearly states that bread is one of the foods that participants were told to avoid. It's possible that the man eating the sandwich is not following the diet. While waiting for the documentary to air, she should read check out the nutritional content of lettuce, which has 3 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, and cauliflower, which has 5.3 g per 100 g. These are hardly high in carbohydrate, especially if you deduct fibre (1.2 and 2.5 g respectively). Evidently her definition of carbohydrate and that of the US Department of Agriculture are different. And then she should ask herself why she is taking medication in order to eat carbohydrates rather than simply eliminating them from her diet.

As a low carber, who is following this way of eating to lose weight and avoid developing diabetes, I'm thrilled that this study has been done, and that Health Canada has funded it.

I've been on Atkins for a year.
I've lost 115 pounds, reversed BOTH diabetes and my heart damage. I'm now getting off of asthma medicine.

Eating whole foods, no processed crap, low carb (low GI veggies), high fat (not trans fats) has saved my life.

Ever since the grain lobbyists and marketers convinced governments to publish the food pyramid, this upside down thinking has leading to the obesity and diabetes epidemics.

More and more studies are coming out to prove how wrong the standard north american diet is. Thankfully.

Everyone, read "Good Calories; Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes. Save your lives.

As a biologist and health researcher working for a local First Nation on a variation of this topic, I couldn't be more interested. As a person who went back to university 30 years ago precisely because of diet and culture and health issues, I couldn't be more excited to view this program tonight.

The various "agro-business" food lobbyists have done us all a huge disservice in promoting unhealthy food habits over the past 4 or 5 decades (at least). But governments, TV and other media advertisers, universities, the medical profession, a host of others, have also been complicit, albeit, at least initially, in an innocent kind of way (this is me trying to be fair and kind).

As a type 2 diabetic myself, who also struggles with weight issues, I look at Dr. Wortman's work on a personal, as well as emotional and intellectual levels. The incredible value of getting back in touch with traditional practices cannot be underestimated.

One caution, however, and I think there needs to be considerable research done in this area (it's what I'm working on): The traditional foods of most of the BC West Coast First Nations contains considerably more environmental contaminants than they did 100, even 50, years ago. These are serious contaminants, from PCBs to dioxins to a host of other compounds. Dioxins, for example, are also associated with diabetes (as a simple google of dioxins and diabetes will reveal). The task of each individual and each community weighing the risks against the benefits of a traditional diet in today's polluted world is one that needs to be taken on with honesty, sensitivity, and dedication.
Maggie

I am wondering about "squirrley bread" that saveon sells that is made w/o flour, is that safe to eat on this diet? also, kudos to a nation who took it upon themselves to educate, monitor, exercise and enjoy a new lifestyle. they are examples to us all, many first nations communities share a common thread of understanding to the real life stories of the people on the show.

it is inspiring to make you wanna think twice about what you eat, and more so what you feed your families. as i watched the show i noticed the childred eating what their parents were eating, and that is a success story right there!

Thanks CBC for a superb contribution.

Well...the documentary was interesting. I live in a small aboriginal community where the challenges and issues are similar to that of Alert Bay. The diet is very similar, in fact we are anxiously awaiting the oolichan run! The diet traditionally consisted of fish, meat, geese, ducks, shellfish, wild rice, plants etc so this documentary is very enlightening and refreshing as we have steered far from the course of our ancestors in terms of the traditional diet.

Congratulations to all participants and to Dr. Jay Wardman. I think another great step would be for this community to start family, community gardens to grow their own produce such as coliflower, broccoli. There's another challenge/idea for you. Good luck and hope to see and read more on the progess of the people of Alert Bay.

I would like to raise a few points after watching tonight's program:

-As a registered dietitian, I find it very absurd that Dr. Wortman's research team does NOT have a dietitian on board (being a so called 'nutrition related' research project).

-Being an M.D., Dr. Wortman should know that carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy. It is a well known fact that people lose weight on low carb diets because our body needs to head to our 'fat' sources for energy, and therefore, starts breaking down fat, which can eventually lead to a potentially dangerous state, known as ketosis.

-Being an M.D., he should also be aware of the fact that diabetes (being type 1 or type 2) does NOT miraculously go away (unless you have gestational diabetes). One more thing related to diabetes, people do not 'contract' diabetes, as was mentioned in the program.

-Am I surprised that a few people (or possibly more than a 'few') developed more complications?! ofcourse not! a diet high in saturated fat (from sausage, bacon, burgers etc...) has been proven over and over again to lead to heart disease.

-How is milk suddenly a 'bad' food item because it contains natural sugar?! where else are these people getting their calcium and vitamin D?!!

-I would truly love to see his final results, and more importantly how fast those individuals will gain back the weight that they've lost once they're off the diet, which I guarantee will happen sooner that later.

If your lactose intolerent, the doctor tells you to stay away from lactose.

If diabetes is carbohydrate intolerance, why does the Canadian Diabetic Association make your diet with 55% carbohydrates?

Wow! This show is giving me so much hope: that bad things in our life can be turned around with the help of others in the same boat. What I liked the most in that show is that in Alert Bay, that has been totally lost in big cities.

Originally from Quebec, I moved to PEI 22 years ago, because this is exactly what I found here... sense of being part of a close knit community. Just wondering... how much we could accomplish all together, if we pushed things one step further, and take our health into our hands as a group. PEI is very high on the list of heart diseases, diabetes, and allergies. Anyone wants to give me ideas about how I could reach out to people in my community to achieve a common goal of losing weight and sharing meals together?

And... congrulations to people putting together that documentary... not a dull moment. Thanks!
Ginette

My experience with Dr. Atkins diet 20 years ago was a success. Unfortunately, I am again overweight, taking blood pressure pills and have been warned that I am a border line diabetic. I'm convinced, after watching "My Big Fat Diet" to try again even though it's not what my doctor suggests.

A very interesting book to read is Dr. Peter D'Adamo's book "Eat Right 4 Your Type" which emphasizes the connections between blood types and diets. I am a Type O which are the hunters and meat eaters. I believe that is the main reason why the Aboriginal people are plagued with Diabetes and other problems since taking on our North American diet. Choosing the natives at Alert Bay for this study was a good choice.

I am excited to watch this documentary tonight. In February 2007, at the age of 22, I realized that I needed to do something about my weight. I was 265 lbs and was tired all the time - my health was quickly declining. I'm not sure exactly how I made the decision, but one day I decided to try a low-carb, atkins diet. I had seen family members have success with it and decided I would try too.

It is now roughly 1 year later and I have lost 102 lbs and feel so much more healthy! My heart rate is at a healthy level again, my blood pressure excellent and recently my doctor checked my nutrition levels and cholesterol and all levels are normal.

I have had a lot of flack from people in my life who don't understand the benefits it has had -- even though they see how good I look (I have ALWAYS been overweight from about grade 4 ... I was always the "fat kid" in class) So many people have concerns about the impact that low-carbohydrate diets have on cholesterol levels, etc. The truth is, my heart health is great and I have the energy now to engage in physical activities that I couldn't engage in before...

I am so glad to hear that Health Canada has funded this study! I have witnessed first hand the benefits it has had in my life -- I feel awesome now that I have changed my eating habits - the truth is, since I've gone on atkins I'm eating more balanced -- my average meal before consisted of pasta, pastries, and breaded foods (very processed). My average meal today includes a variety of veggies and a healthy protein.

This diet has changed my life!

my dietician says low carb diet has not been approve yet
where could i pick up the my big fat diet recipes by dr jay nortman

where do i get oolichan oil in montreal?

i dont agree about bacon and cream its just more cholesterol
and we need milk for bones
there is sugar in everything we eat
i appreciate thanks lynda

I'm with Rob - Dr Price was a front runner. This is a fabulous way to eat. I was disappointed not to hear more about this being a high FAT diet, as opposed to high protein like Atkins - but that's OK. Baby steps. :-)

"Nourishing Traditions" by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig (available at Chapters, BTW)is an excellent introduction to traditional eating, including high healthy fats, whole foods, fermentation and proper preparation of food for maximum nutrition.

Good job, CBC and Health Canada, for having the guts to get this out there.

Liz

Ive just seen the documentary and want to acknowledge all the participants - I too am inspired, Art! All that each of you have shared - about what you have learned and experienced, and about our traditional food resources! Andrea you ask whats next... Im wondering if you guys have created a cook book with all those great recipes yet - Eva's broccoli stirfry - and Porgies new clam chowder recipe!

And Greg, your comments on the concern for our traditional food gathering is a very important point for us to consider - and now we have more proof of the validity of our need for our traditional way of life. You all spoke so well...

Sincerly, I felt very proud watching this documentary - for your accomplishments, and for the gift you have given our communities by sharing your stories! Thank you everyone... Including Jay and the support gang. Yet more proof that our people knew what they were doing eh?
Gilakasla!
Ruby

My husband and I have followed a low carb diet for 5 years. We are both 50 years old,and honestly have more energy than many people half our age. If you care about your health,read Good Calories,Bad Calories by Gary Taubes. He does a very thorough job of explaining(pretty wordy)how carbohydrates and starches react in the body.

We try to eat as organically as possible,local farm raised beef and pork, organic local veggies whenever we can and no milk. Organic cream in our coffee,good red wine,green tea,lots of water,and eat as much as we want. We don't gain weight and feel fantastic!

I'm wondering if the registered dieticians get a low-carb critic's cheat sheet when they graduate so they can trot out the same arguments each time a low-carb diet is mentioned. They seem to throw out the same lines of criticism like rote.

"that carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy" Only when carbohydrates are present. When they aren't, the body can use fat & protein & synthesize all the glucose it needs. Carbohydrates are not essential.

"It is a well known fact that people lose weight on low carb diets because our body needs to head to our 'fat' sources for energy" Yes, that's the point, isn't it? How else will someone lose weight other than to use up the fat?

"breaking down fat, which can eventually lead to a potentially dangerous state, known as ketosis" The biggest myth, ketosis is dangerous. Ketosis is a healthy part of *everyone's* metabolism. Most people go into ketosis when they sleep and use stored energy for fuel. Ketosis just means ketones (the byproducts of fat burning) are in your system. Everyone who wants to lose weight needs at least occasional ketosis to do so. Ketosisacidosis is dangerous, a condition diabetics have when they can't clear the ketones from the system. Two different things.

"diabetes (being type 1 or type 2) does NOT miraculously go away (unless you have gestational diabetes). One more thing related to diabetes, people do not 'contract' diabetes, as was mentioned in the program" Semantics. Type II diabetes might not go away, but symptons and dangers of it can be effectively elimiated with a low-carb diet. Using a low-carb diet with type I diabetes can significantly reduce the need for insulin and the resultant complications associated with its use. Why is 'contract' a wrong word? People get, acquire, develop, contract diabetes.

"a diet high in saturated fat (from sausage, bacon, burgers etc...) has been proven over and over again to lead to heart disease" Diets high in saturated fat have been proven to lead to higher cholesterol levels. Higher cholesterol levels have been *assumed* to lead to heart disease. A review of the research will show that there is very weak correlation between cholesterol levels & heart disease. But as an interesting aside, low carb diets traditionally lead to better decreases in triglycerides and better increases in HDL cholesterol, as anyone who has studied recent research will tell you, both are more significantly correlated with a reduction in heart disease.

"where else are these people getting their calcium and vitamin D?!!" Calcium is in other, lower carbohydrate dairy products and many vegetables. Vitamin D is present in fish oil, especially cod liver oil, which everyone should be taking in order to increase their omega 3 fatty acid intake, an essential fat that our standard diet is far too low in.

QUOTE: Liz from Alberta

"I'm with Rob - Dr Price was a front runner. This is a fabulous way to eat. I was disappointed not to hear more about this being a high FAT diet, as opposed to high protein like Atkins - but that's OK. Baby steps. :-)"

Liz, you are mistaken. Atkins is a high fat diet. In fact 60-75% fat, 5% carbs and the rest protein. The percentages depend on what stage you are currently following (induction, on going weight loss, pre-maintenance, life time maintenance).

My partner and I just watched "My Big Fat Diet" last night and were amazed with what Alert Bay was able to accomplish together.

Congrats to Dr.Wortman and the participants who took part of this study that documents a medical and cultural experiment for First Nations.

Hopfully the first of many steps for everyone who got to watch the program or hears about it.

Alert Bay Diet doc a hit!

Hello Jay,
thanks very much for the heads-up on your Alert Bay Diet documentary last evening. we thoroughly enjoyed it from every perspective. the case was well made, and, I only hope that it helps to significantly move forward your scaleable initiative of engagement. my take on getting the healthy eating message noticed, as yours aptly describes, is that it is too simple and 'not sexy enough' to attract the attention or dollars! keep on and have faith that the tipping point is close at hand.
best regards, yours in food,

It would be interesting to see how this research pans out. I hope Dr. Wortman is careful in generalizing from his relatively homogeneous population study of mostly west coast aboriginals. The point was made earlier that while this 'traditional' diet may work for some (for those who the diet is actually representative of their ancestral diet), it might not work as well for everyone.

I'm not convinced this diet runs all that contrary to 'conventional wisdom.' The dietary advice I see given in Moose Lake (northern Manitoba) and that taught in medical school is to limit carbohydrate intake for diabetics. As a rough guide, the plate is divided into three, with half devoted to vegetables (does not include corn and potatoes), a quarter to starches, and a quarter to meat/animal products.

The real challenge is having people understand how to limit carbohydrates, especially refined sugars and adopt a diet richer in whole foods. The 'traditional diet' fits this wisdom of more whole foods and less refined sugars (albeit with a higher emphasis on animal products compared to vegetables), and is presented as a diet that is familiar and appealing to First Nations. The successes seen in Alert Bay compared to elsewhere may be attributable more to people keeping to the diet than the diet being so revolutionary.

It's is interesting to note the discoveries of American dentist Weston A. Price. Traveling the world in the 1930s he noted that many people eating a "primitive" diet were healthier than similar folks who ate a more modern western type diet. His book "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration" outlines his findings and is a fascinating read.

Hi from Van. Is.
Great programme and keep up the good work Alert Bay and bravo to Health Canada and Dr. Wortman.
I have "dieted" all my life and never been long term successful at maintaining weight loss until I started the low-carb plan.

Ideas I have learned since losing and while still continuing to lose:
Read all labels carefully for Carb content.
Choose low or lower fat proteins...oysters, mussels, clams, chicken, rabbit, eggs etc are great.
Eat smaller evenly spaced "meals" to avoid temptations.
When carbs are reduced the body goes to the fat cells to combine with protiens to produce energy..so..weight loss.
Manage portion sizes carefully...huge amounts of any food is not healthy.
One is satiated far more quickly with high protien foods than will empty calorie foods such as potato chips and sugared pops.
If I were to measure the amount of fats hidden or obvious that were in my diet before Atkins I am sure I was eating just as many if not more than now and many were trans fats!
Portion control is extremely important.
Exercise must combine with any healthy life style..now I have the health and engergy to be much more active.
Getting enough calcium and Vit D is not an issue...lots of the allowable foods provide this and if you are dreadfully concerned..pop a vitamin tablet.

To the participants of Alert Bay...good on you for going to you local food store and requesting the food you want...like all isolated communities...the commercial food source plays a huge role in the health of the community members. Congrats to the local stores for stepping up to the plate!!!

Keep up the great work and keep us informed.

I'd be interested to know whether anyone watching this docu has read the non-academic publications by Gary Paul Nabhan, particularly 'Why Some Like it Hot'. The issue of healthy diets for First Nations has been discussed ethnobotany and paleoethnobotany circles for some time. There's academic lit. out there.

Looking forward to hearing about the results of this experiment.

Jennifer

I am really inspired by your committment to follow this diet as a community. I would like to send out my congradulations to all that participated. Also to CBC it would be neat to see another follow up to this documentary maybe anoth year down the road to see who stuck with it and if it still working for them. Again congrats keep up the good work!!!!!

I a another who, exactly five years ago, discovered Atkins diet. All the positive comments I've read here are the same as I feel about the results of low card intake. The best is not mentioned yet..........after one stops eating the 'high octane carbs'..(the ones that send the blood sugar levels into hyper activity of ups and downs), the desire to eat them disappears. I remember reading this in Dr. Atkins book and thinking that this could never be. It did happen and it is the reason for my success in keeping the weight off!
I hope the people in Alert Bay have found this out as well.
There is the reward for me! I KNOW I can keep my weight in check from here on.

I, like others who commented in these letters, have had a struggle with weight since a youngster. This is the first time I have been able to live and be satisfied with my eating habits and health.

I wish the best to all who participated and to those who are now getting their heads ready to begin.

As a Curriculum researcher/writer concerned with diabetes and kidney disease prevention in an isolated northern community , the recent CBC program was inspiring and informative.

The high prices of so called nutritious foods makes them out of reach for most families in the area I work in. That is fresh produce such as fruits and veggies. This is one of the main challenges the community faces besides addressing the addiction to convenient pesticide ridden junk food.

With diabetes now occuring in children in the community this type of "intervention work" is critical for other First Nations to be aware of.

Traditional diets of course vary across the country but they need to be re-discovered as much as possible.

Looking forward to hearing more about the research project as time goes by.

cheers

I watched the film on TV and was very impressed since I have always had to watch my weight. I knew that First Nation people were problematic with weight and I never wanted to be big, but guess what? I am now 43 yrs old and am disgusted with myself. I've tried so many diets and have given up.

Now I am trying my hand at a career with the media and know my weight has to be taken care of. I tried eating the 100% whole wheat breads and cereal. Fruit and salads when I can. It's hard to stick to it with a skinny husband who doesn't like seafood. Otherwise, I'd be eating salmon and other seafood as much as possible.

Now that I've seen this film it has given me the inspiration to try to cut out milk and eat more vegetables along with my fish/seafood. I don't live on the reserve either. It would be so good to have a support group as they do in Alert Bay.

I would like to participate in this diet. I have rheumatoid arthritis, Hep C, and I find I shake when I go an hour or two without food. I thought I was diabetic, but my test showed negative. I have problems with milk, sugar, but I love my chocolate and goodies. I have cut them out now. I like my diet pop and been told it is alright to have a limited amount.

Your diet should be tried outside of Alert Bay because our systems aren't meant to tolerate the foods in todays society. Especially alcohol. Thank you for sharing this story with us. If there is anything I may be of help with please feel free to let me know. My health isn't the greatest and hope that if I loose weight it will improve. Thank you.

Pauline Van Koll (Citizen Journalist)

A very enjoyable program to watch. I was really touched by the spirit of the people interviewed and by the support and unity they have among each other. I wish them the very best in continuing this journey together.

This was a boring waste of time. Even if this did work, it sends a bad message. I never heard them use the word activity or exercise once.

This show is one worth seeing again and again. The concept of alternate diets based on one's heritage is thinking outside the dietician's envelope. Those people used that diet for thousands of years and it is quite probable that a low-carb diet is appropriate for them as it would be for the Inuit.

However, it should be remembered that what is good for them may not be good for everyone. My ancestors lived in a grain producing area and probably never saw a fish from one year's end to the next. A diet for me would probably avoid fats and use lean meats, grains, root vegetables, berries and vegetables from the cabbage family.

More studies obviously need to be done. This may be the start of something exciting.

I watched The Big Fat Diet at 1:00 this morning. I have several friends that would like to see this documentary. Will it be aired at an earlier time any time soon? Congratulations Alert Bay. I thoroughly enjoyed the way everyone was trying to come up with different ways to make meals. The documentary was so well done.

Much enjoyed your CBC Documentary which reminded me of "Eat Fat and Grow Slim" published in England in 1958 and still to be found on the Web Strongly recommended.

I want to add my 'congratulations' to Dr. Wortman, his staff and all of the residents of Alert Bay- for participating in a monumentally important study.

For so long, well meaning health experts and researchers would go into Aboriginal communities and 'study' all aspects of their lives, only to report their results in the form of negative and often pejorative outcomes. We've seen the results time and again... high levels of: heart disease, alcohol consumption, diabetes, obesity. Add to these, other 'measures' like illiteracy, disproportionate representation in penal institutions, etc.

One would easily draw the conclusion from these horrific research outcome markers that Aboriginal people were somehow culturally flawed as a group; that they were inherently damaged (and lazy). Rarely did people take the time and effort to figure out who was conducting the research on whom, and whose standards of measurements were being used to measure whose reality. More importantly, the contextual factors that may have explained these horrific and pejorative health markers never ever seemed to be there beside the outcome data.

Could a radical disruption/interuption of a community's way of life (incl. diet) and activities of daily living (developed and taught through many, many generations and centuries) somehow explain these lousy health/social markers? The emerging evidence from Alert Bay is significant because it turns us back to the context and explanations. We could just do the usual and throw some more pills at these problems but this study is turning our eyes to something far more beautiful- to the proud and timeless cultural practices of 1st Nations people!

Although the benefits of this diet and study are apparent for the individual and community of Alert Bay, I want to say "keep up the good work" for the sake of people everywhere. You're all participating in ground-breaking research. For many years, people have toyed with the idea that these horrific health statistics of Diabetes, heart disease (incl high blood pressure), alcoholism, obesity, might be connected to a dramatic change or departure from traditional ways of life, of which diet is a primary part. Now it looks as though this tiny community on the Vancouver Island coast is contributing the evidence that there is indeed a connection between health and ways of living/eating.

Hmmm, now maybe the 'settlers' are in a position to learn a thing or two from their Aboriginal neighbors!

Alert Bay ROCKS!!

I just saw this documentary for the first time last night. It was exciting to see research being done on the relationship between an individual's genetics and their diet for their optimum health. I was fortunate enough to meet a very unique and brilliant physician at 16 who gave me my own specific list of foods and inherited predispositions for disease. Being that he was in his late 70's at the time and he has now moved back to England, I have had a serious concern that my future children will not have the same benefit. My own physician, while he had many degrees, was very alternative in how he did assessments. I have yet to meet anyone who possesses the same skills set. Seeing another pioneer pushing forward with such a similar philosophy has given me hope that soon this knowledge will be commonplace and there will be scientific tools available to assess an individual's DNA.

On another note, my physician told me that addictions are part of an three-stage allergic cycle. I was so happy to see that one participant applying his 12 step program to his diet as well as the side commentary on the physical reaction to carbohydrates resembling a physical reaction to an addictive substance (I do not remember the specifics).

Please keep it up!

This is quite fascinating and further evidence that a diet consisting mainly of fast burning carbs may be a major contributing factor to many health issues. It has already been established that high consumption of fast burning carbs and flour may be responsible for the development of fatty liver disease.

A big congratulations to Dr. Wortman who has added some scientific validity to a high protein, low fat diet by monitoring the blood profiles and progress of participants. The world needs to see this, especially the naysayers.

The only thing that I would challenge Dr. Wortman on is the fact that his dietary recommendations for this study are devoid of such "good" carbs as beans and lentils. I believe the inclusion of beans and lentils into the diet proposed by Dr. Wortman, would result in even better blood profiles over the course of the study. Beans and lentils are slow burning, healthy carbs which are nutrient, mineral and fibre packed and benefit the body in may ways to ward off critical health problems including cancer as studies have demonstrated.

This is quite fascinating and further evidence that a diet consisting mainly of fast burning carbs may be a major contributing factor to many health issues. It has already been established that high consumption of fast burning carbs and flour may be responsible for the development of fatty liver disease.

A big congratulations to Dr. Wortman who has added some scientific validity to a high protein, low fat diet by monitoring the blood profiles and progress of participants. The world needs to see this, especially the naysayers.

The only thing that I would challenge Dr. Wortman on is the fact that his dietary recommendations for this study are devoid of such "good" carbs as beans and lentils. I believe the inclusion of beans and lentils into the diet proposed by Dr. Wortman, would result in even better blood profiles over the course of the study. Beans and lentils are slow burning, healthy carbs which are nutrient, mineral and fibre packed and benefit the body in may ways to ward off critical health problems including cancer as studies have demonstrated.

Hats off to Dr.Jay and the people of Namgis. I applaud your efforts and wish you the best of success.

A couple of questions for those detractors who clearly believe this is the wrong direction. First, how on earth do you suppose First Nations people survived before you arrived with your dietician's list of approved foods? And second, did you never think that just maybe, your dietician's lists might be even a little bit wrong?

I enjoyed the program on high protein, high fat, low carbohydrate diet.
1. Is there any information on other factors such as before and after calorie intake, activity levels etc that might substantiate the claims that the weight loss was due to the change in the types of food eaten?
2. Is there a published study in the literature? 3.Any follow-up information on the participants since the program was first aired?

G.Bohrn

I am a food-health critic on an anti-obesity campaign since discovering food guides, the US Pyramid and the Canadian Rainbow. Diets have promoted weight gain ever since.
I was invited by the Manitoba Better Living Minister. He had taught in the north and we agreed on one key element. The replacement of cheap junk food by traditional meat, (red) at southern prices. They are paying t-bone money for hot dogs. We suggested prepaid transport!
My thoughts on the Big, Fat Diet? It's a diet, unnatural with the excesses of fruit and veggies, sub-standard fare
In my early years greens happened in summer and fall, winter and spring-- meat and potatoes ruled the table.
I presented my book at the Winnipeg office in 2002. After high praise It was shoved aside for " Experts" with predictable results.
We owe a bewildered population the option to make their own choices. My food strategy has never been challenged!
Hart Oldenburg, google it!

I find this program an opening for a new start to how we should eat our food and how we digest it.
I find one complaint is not having a wheebarror full of medications they are not taking.
I believe those medications are causing the obeses and the swelling of the stomach and causes more addictions to sweets and other florides.
Go to www.worstpills.org and google up common grounds and read up on Allan Cassels articles on medications.Len Horawitz is another person of interest regarding bad medicine.

I've been on this kind of diet for over a year. My weight went down by 10 to 15 pounds and has stabilized at 160--I'm an ancient (83) 5'8" male and the diet obviously works for me as my blood work has also improved greatly.
The only major problem I see is that the "world" cannot support this diet. Without carbs like rice and flour, etc., even more people than now would face severe starvation;. There simply are not enough non-carbs for all.

Help I need to loose 120 LBS more or less.
I think they need to run the same thing "My Big Fat Diet" in Ontario and see if it works in other part of Canada.
Please start where I live. I WANT TO IMPROVE MY HEALTH TO LIVE LONGER.
I lived in ontario, Canada, Niagara
Fall Region.
I was really inspired by your documentary "My Big Fat Diet" on the news to night.

I am willing to eat tons of veggies and try to certainly give up starches and sugar for the rest of my life to live longer. This food plan sounds a lot like Dr. Atkins.

I do eat a lot of starchy vegetables like winter squash and yams...legumes such as split pea soup and all types of beans (navy, kidney, white northern, garbanzo, etc.) Can anyone advise me if I would need to give up these legumes in order to make this particular diet work?
Thank you for sharing "My Big Fat Diet" with the public....I am anxious to begin, myself.

Hello! Just wondering how it's going in Alert Bay! Andrea Cranmer, I saw you and your mom on TV! How's the diet going? It's Aug 18, 2009.

The Atkins diet restricts alcohol - but I saw participants enjoying a glass of wine with dinner. Can someone find out what Dr. Jay's diet says about having red wine etc?

I watched MY BIG FAT DIET at 5am when I had terrible insomnia. I'm grateful I did! I am a 37 year old female that has 25-30lbs to lose. I have been toying with the idea of giving up starches and sugar for about 6 months after an article I read. Now after seeing this show, I am more convinced that this is a real alternative for me. I have taken notes about what foods are permitted and what is not. I drink soy milk so I wonder if this would be permitted on the diet?

To everyone who has posted :-

- Visit http://www.paleodiet.com/ (The basic premiss of this).
- Visit http://www.marksdailyapple.com/
- Research into 'Lipid hypothesis' and look into why it was such a flawed study (this study is what everyone refers to when saying cholesterol is linked to heart disease).
- Research into how much carbs the body actually needs to operate on (none).
- Milk is off the menu for this diet as it does contain a high amount of sugar, you can quite easily get the necessary vitamins etc from elsewhere.
- Do your own research, come to your own conclusion.
- And yes exercise was never mentioned, but as far as I can tell this wasn't part of the study, if it had been included then it would have complicated the results as you couldn't tell if the results were diet based or not.
- No nutritional study is ever go to weigh up against serious scientific criticism, there are too many variables at play, most of it just turns into anecdotal evidence which you as a person have to weigh up and decide upon.
- Try and watch 'Fathead the movie' ( www.fathead-movie.com ) the first half is a bit bad, but the second half goes into many of the topics this program covers (but in more detail).

Paul

I watched and enjoyed the show very much. I read Gary Taubes book and I suggest his book and this show become mandatory for any medical and dietician student. I have followed a low carb lifestyle for over a year now and the sound of that scares most people. They would rather take drugs that give up on starchy, sugary foods. I have lost over 20 pounds and my cholesterol is in the moderate zone but my triglycerides are almost non-existent. My doctor ignored the triglycerides and was quite stern with me to lower my fat intake. Most doctors have learned all they know about lowering lipids from drug companies. That is as bad as the Canada Food Guide being determined by the lobbyists in the grain and dairy trade! That wouldn't happen, would it?