Category: Ask the Expert

Ask the Expert: Does being overweight really decrease mortality? No!

 The Expert: Dr. Walter Willett Fredrick John Stare Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, and Chair, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health   A recent JAMA study got major media attention when it claimed that grade 1 obesity (BMI 30-<35) was not associated with any greater mortality, than being normal weight […] Continue reading

Ask the Expert: Healthy Fats

The Experts: Dr. Walter Willett and Amy Myrdal Miller We asked Dr. Walter Willett of Harvard School of Public Health and Amy Myrdal Miller, M.S., R.D. of The Culinary Institute of America to explain why it’s time to end the “low fat is best” myth—and to provide ideas for how to use healthy fats in […] Continue reading

Ask the expert: Omega-3 fatty acids

The Expert: Dr. Frank Sacks Professor of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health 1. What are omega-3 fatty acids, and why should I make sure to include them in my diet? Omega-3 fatty acids (also known as n-3 fatty acids) are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential nutrients for health. We […] Continue reading

Ask the expert: Vitamin D and chronic disease

The Expert: Dr. Edward Giovannucci Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health 1. There’s been a lot of news lately about vitamin D’s role in prevention of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. What do we know today—and what questions remain? Vitamin D has a well-established role […] Continue reading

Ask the expert: Controlling your weight

 The Expert: Dr. Walter Willett Fredrick John Stare Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, and Chair, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health   1. How much control do we have over our body weight? And how much of our weight is controlled by our genes? Genes do play a role […] Continue reading