What if type 2 diabetes could be reversed, or the risks of heart disease reduced by eating more fat instead of less?
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These questions and more will be the topic of discussion at a health forum touring Australia and coming to Launceston on March 23.
Led by Launceston orthopaedic surgeon Gary Fettke, Bring Back the Fat is aimed at dispelling myths around low carbohydrate, healthy fat diets and diabetes.
Dr Fettke's name was cleared in October last year, after he was formerly cautioned by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency in 2016 against providing nutritional information to patients.
The sanction came after Dr Fettke was reported for recommending patients reduce their sugar intake, and claims he inappropriately reversed a patient's diabetes.
While AHPRA issued a formal apology for the errors made in dealing with claims against him, Dr Fettke said health professionals advocating for low-carb and paleo diets continued to be targeted by big food companies.
It is something he likened to the tobacco industry's attack on anti-smoking advocates 50 years ago.
"Part of it is there is still so much confusion about how to eat healthy," he said.
"I will actually call that disinformation, which is being put out there by the cereal industry and the food industry.
"People can turn their diabetes around this afternoon if they want."
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Diabetes remains the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia.
Dr Fettke said more than 50,000 Tasmanians were living with diagnosed diabetes, with a similar amount believed to be undiagnosed.
"You only have to walk down the street to see we are getting fatter and sicker," he said.
"The number of people living with or on the way to developing insulin resistance is also estimated to be about 50 per cent of the population, considering that two-thirds of Tasmanians are overweight or obese.
"It is not about exercise, although that is an important part of the equation, it is more about what we eat, what we are putting in our mouths.
"The flow on effects at a community level are huge, both economic and personal. Diabetes is at the heart of it all. It is hard to estimate just how much it is costing us, but it would be in the billions."
The forum will also feature leading UK cardiologist Aseem Malhotra, Australian nutritionist Christine Cronau and medical scientist Maryanne Demasi.
Dr Fettke said it was aimed at anyone who wanted to become better informed about their health.
"If people want to learn about taking back that control, not just for diabetes but for obesity and cardiovascular disease, then this is the forum for them."
- Tickets at trybooking.com.
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