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"Dr" Gillian McKeith, aka "That Awful Poo Lady" is no longer permitted to use the title "Dr" in any of her advertising. I personally think she shouldn't be allowed to use the title "Dr" in her name, as she got it from a non-accredited degree mill on the basis of a 46 page pamphlet on the supposed health benefits of "blue-green algae". Its also an insult to the people I know who slogged their guts out to produce backbreaking 1,000+ page tomes. (Maths PhDs are probably much shorter, but 20 pages of solid equations would require just as much work).
Its not just the stupid science and the bullying that get to me. She shares something in common with an awful lot of other "woo merchants". The attitude of blaming the victim. While doing something about poor diet and lack of exercise will help you, I don't think it accounts for the disparity in life expectancy between rich and poor. Goldacre's article cites the difference in average lifespan between someone who lives in Hampstead (78) and Kentish Town (70). I've read similar stats in a Steve Jones book (using -iirc- the District line for comparison). For practicioners of alternative "medicine" if their hyperoxygenated water or chelation therapy or the laying on of hands doesn't work its because the patient didn't believe enough, or didn't have the right attitude. It couldn't possibly be because the "cure" can't work now could it? Blaming the victim makes good TV, pointing out the uncomfortable truth about the difference between rich and poor that influences such things as diet choice makes politicians uncomfortable and can't be allowed. Its not just health, this attitude permeates many other areas of political debate. I'm sure you can think of some.
Its not just the stupid science and the bullying that get to me. She shares something in common with an awful lot of other "woo merchants". The attitude of blaming the victim. While doing something about poor diet and lack of exercise will help you, I don't think it accounts for the disparity in life expectancy between rich and poor. Goldacre's article cites the difference in average lifespan between someone who lives in Hampstead (78) and Kentish Town (70). I've read similar stats in a Steve Jones book (using -iirc- the District line for comparison). For practicioners of alternative "medicine" if their hyperoxygenated water or chelation therapy or the laying on of hands doesn't work its because the patient didn't believe enough, or didn't have the right attitude. It couldn't possibly be because the "cure" can't work now could it? Blaming the victim makes good TV, pointing out the uncomfortable truth about the difference between rich and poor that influences such things as diet choice makes politicians uncomfortable and can't be allowed. Its not just health, this attitude permeates many other areas of political debate. I'm sure you can think of some.
