Steven Bartlett’s Podcast and the Spread of Health Misinformation: A Doctor’s Response

‍Why It’s Harder to Debunk Misinformation Than to Create It

Dr. Georgia Ede, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist specializing in nutritional and metabolic psychiatry, recently appeared on The Diary of a CEO podcast with Steven Bartlett. She has a new book out, and her credentials are undeniably impressive.

If you know me, you’ll also know that it’s not my style to “call out” other healthcare professionals. I prefer to create positive, uplifting content based on scientific evidence. Outrage might be an easier way to build a following, but I dislike the energy it creates and the divisive atmosphere it fosters. However, some statements are so profoundly misleading that they demand a response.

The Challenge of Debunking Nutrition Misinformation

Have you heard of Brandolini’s Law? It states that refuting false information requires significantly more effort than creating it. In the world of nutrition, this means that misinformation spreads quickly—especially when packaged into catchy soundbites—while debunking it requires detailed explanations, scientific evidence, and nuance.

Given the massive reach of The Diary of a CEO—a podcast that has amassed over a billion listens—it’s clear that some platforms are just too influential to let misinformation slide. So, here we are.

The Misleading Claim: “Fibre Is Not Essential”

One of the more bizarre claims made by Dr. Ede during the podcast was that humans don’t need fibre, calling it “not an essential nutrient.” This statement was so misleading that the podcast’s own fact-checkers felt compelled to debunk it—though this correction only appeared in the YouTube version, not the audio podcast.

This claim contradicts decades of nutritional research. While fibre is technically not classified as an “essential nutrient” (because it’s not a single, specific compound like vitamin C), it plays a critical role in digestion, gut health, and disease prevention.

Fibre comes from plant-based foods—whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes—that have been a dominant part of human diets for millions of years. Even the most ardent advocates of “ancestral diets” fail to acknowledge that early humans consumed over 100 grams of fibre daily from wild plants.

Scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports the benefits of fibre, including:

✔ Increased stool weight and frequency

✔ Improved blood sugar and cholesterol levels

✔ Enhanced gut microbiota diversity

✔ Reduced risk of colorectal cancer and heart disease

So no, fibre isn’t “non-essential”—it’s fundamental to long-term health.

Dismissing Scientific Research: A Dangerous Precedent

Dr. Ede also dismissed much of modern nutrition research, stating that our knowledge of dietary impacts is based on “questionnaire-based guesswork” and “untested theories.” This is not only misleading but also deeply concerning.

Epidemiology—the field that studies population health and disease patterns—has provided invaluable insights into nutrition. Large-scale studies like the Adventist Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study, and Framingham Heart Study have tracked diet-disease relationships for decades. Their findings are not based on “wild guesses” but on statistical models and controlled methodologies.

For instance, epidemiological research has consistently shown that:

🔴 Processed meat consumption is linked to a 6% greater risk of breast cancer, 18% greater risk of colorectal cancer, and 12% greater risk of lung cancer.

🟢 Higher dietary fibre intake is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes.

Dismissing an entire scientific discipline because its findings contradict a personal dietary preference is not just reckless—it’s dangerous.

‍

Misrepresenting How the Body Burns Fat

Another claim made by Dr. Ede was that you “really cannot burn fat unless you are in ketosis”—suggesting that unless someone follows a ketogenic diet, they cannot efficiently lose fat. This is demonstrably false.

✔ The human body burns fat for energy even when not in ketosis.

✔ Achieving a calorie deficit—through diet and exercise—is the primary driver of fat loss, regardless of ketone levels.

✔ Ketogenic diets, originally developed for treating epilepsy, can be beneficial in certain medical contexts but are not necessary for fat loss.

Metabolic ward studies, including rigorous research from Kevin Hall’s team, have debunked the notion that ketogenic diets are uniquely superior for weight loss. People can and do lose weight on many dietary patterns, including high-carbohydrate, plant-based diets.

Are Vegan Diets “Incompatible with Human Life”?

Dr. Ede made yet another shocking claim—that a vegan diet is “incompatible with human life.” This is, again, a complete misrepresentation of nutritional science.

Well-planned plant-based diets are not only safe but are associated with numerous health benefits, including reduced risks of:

✔ Cardiovascular disease

✔ Type 2 diabetes

✔ Hypertension

✔ Obesity

While any diet—vegan, keto, or omnivorous—requires proper planning, dismissing plant-based diets entirely is absurd. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, states that:

“Appropriately planned vegetarian, including vegan, diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.”

The Rise of Fact-Checking in Health Podcasts

The recent BBC investigation into The Diary of a CEO found that, on average, each health-related episode contained 14 harmful health claims contradicting established scientific evidence.

To Steven Bartlett’s credit, he has since introduced fact-check labels on YouTube videos where guests make contentious claims. This is a step in the right direction, but it’s clear that more scrutiny is needed when amplifying health-related messages to millions of people.

What This Means for Public Health

As a doctor, I understand the responsibility of sharing accurate health information. I also understand the allure of simple, compelling narratives—especially in an era where social media rewards sensational claims.

But health misinformation has real-world consequences. It influences public perception, impacts dietary choices, and ultimately affects long-term health outcomes.

That’s why we need to prioritize science over sensationalism, evidence over anecdotes, and long-term health over short-term fads.

Final Thoughts: A Call for Informed Discussion

I think The Diary of a CEO is an incredible podcast. Steven Bartlett has an impressive ability to create engaging, thought-provoking content, and many of his guests—Dr. Tara Swart, Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. Sarah Berry—have shared valuable insights on health and nutrition.

But I also hope that we continue to move toward higher standards of scientific accuracy when discussing nutrition. Maybe one day, Steven, you’ll invite me on to have a conversation about the importance of evidence-based health advice.

Until then—if you know someone considering a carnivore diet, share this article with them. You just might help prevent a heart attack at the gym.

‍

This article was originally published on Dr Gemma Newmans Substack here.