Research Original Investigation
Gluttony in the Time of Statins?
Editor's Note
Statins and Weight Gain Rita F. Redberg, MD, MSc
There remains much controversy over the risks and benefits of statins for primary prevention. Besides the risks of muscle aches, diabetes, and cognitive dysfunction, I have observed over the years that for many patients, statins provide a Related article page 1038 false reassurance, as people seem to believe that statins can compensate for poor dietary choices and a sedentary life. In an elegantly performed analysis of NHANES data from 1999 to 2010, Sugiyama and 1. Sugiyama T, Tsugawa Y, Tseng C-H, Kobayashi Y, Shapiro MF. Different time trends of caloric and fat
1046
colleagues1 have documented exactly such behavior. They found that compared with statin nonusers, statin users significantly increased their fat intake and calorie consumption, along with their BMI, in the last decade. This article raises concerns of a potential moral hazard of statin use, in addition to the already known adverse effects. Focusing on cholesterol levels can be distracting from the more beneficial focus on healthy lifestyle to reduce heart disease risk.
intake between statin users and nonusers among US adults: gluttony in the time of statins?
[published online April 24, 2014]. JAMA Intern Med. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.1927.
JAMA Internal Medicine July 2014 Volume 174, Number 7
Copyright 2014 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Downloaded From: http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/ by a Ndsu Library Periodicals User on 05/23/2015
jamainternalmedicine.com
Gluttony in the Time of Statins?
Editor's Note
Statins and Weight Gain Rita F. Redberg, MD, MSc
There remains much controversy over the risks and benefits of statins for primary prevention. Besides the risks of muscle aches, diabetes, and cognitive dysfunction, I have observed over the years that for many patients, statins provide a Related article page 1038 false reassurance, as people seem to believe that statins can compensate for poor dietary choices and a sedentary life. In an elegantly performed analysis of NHANES data from 1999 to 2010, Sugiyama and 1. Sugiyama T, Tsugawa Y, Tseng C-H, Kobayashi Y, Shapiro MF. Different time trends of caloric and fat
1046
colleagues1 have documented exactly such behavior. They found that compared with statin nonusers, statin users significantly increased their fat intake and calorie consumption, along with their BMI, in the last decade. This article raises concerns of a potential moral hazard of statin use, in addition to the already known adverse effects. Focusing on cholesterol levels can be distracting from the more beneficial focus on healthy lifestyle to reduce heart disease risk.
intake between statin users and nonusers among US adults: gluttony in the time of statins?
[published online April 24, 2014]. JAMA Intern Med. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.1927.
JAMA Internal Medicine July 2014 Volume 174, Number 7
Copyright 2014 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Downloaded From: http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/ by a Ndsu Library Periodicals User on 05/23/2015
jamainternalmedicine.com
