title: Why are we failing with the epidemic of obesity and other chronic diseases? A further look at aetiopathogenesis.
abstract: It is timely to be addressing this question: in some respects medicine and the delivery of healthcare has driven itself slowly to an impasse, whilst the biological sciences that should underpin our understanding of healthcare are undergoing a revolution. That there could now be seriously conflicting scientific opinion over the role of saturated fats in the aetiopathogenesis of coronary heart disease is a terrifying indictment of our limited understanding of the role of the modern diet in disease. Currently there remains a substantial disconnect between the new directions indicated by the biological sciences, and our entrenched views concerning treatment of the epidemic chronic diseases such as obesity. As the new knowledge unfolds it seems likely that a better understanding of diet in all respects will move to centre stage as we endeavour to solve these problems.
authors.affiliation: Kumeu Medical Centre, PO Box 404, Kumeu, Auckland 0841, New Zealand. william.ferguson@kumeumedical.co.nz.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012931:Social Environment