Dr. Oz Blasts 'White Foods' as Obesity Drivers

Federal dietary guidelines continue to make waves as new recommendations target ultra-processed foods and promote protein over refined carbs.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Dr. Mehmet Oz, the CMS administrator, has endorsed the new federal dietary guidelines that target ultra-processed foods and promote protein over refined carbohydrates. Oz says the shift is 'long overdue' and that 'white foods' like white flour, white rice, and white sugar are the real drivers of obesity, not healthy fats. Dietitian Kendall Mackintosh agrees, stating that refined and processed carbs lead to rapid blood sugar spikes, insulin surges, and increased fat storage.

Why it matters

The new dietary guidelines represent a significant shift away from decades of low-fat messaging, acknowledging that excess refined carbohydrates and sugar, rather than healthy fats, are the primary culprits behind the obesity epidemic. This change in approach could have major implications for public health, food industry practices, and consumer behavior.

The details

The new federal dietary guidelines advise Americans to 'significantly reduce' their consumption of highly processed and refined carbohydrates such as white bread, flour tortillas, and crackers. Dr. Oz and dietitian Kendall Mackintosh both argue that these 'white foods' are among the most metabolically damaging components of the standard American diet, leading to rapid blood sugar spikes, insulin surges, and increased fat accumulation over time.

  • The new federal dietary guidelines were released earlier this year.

The players

Dr. Mehmet Oz

The CMS administrator who has endorsed the new federal dietary guidelines and called the shift away from promoting refined carbs over healthy fats as 'long overdue'.

Kendall Mackintosh

A board-certified and licensed dietitian nutritionist based in Bethesda, Maryland, who agrees that refined 'white foods' and highly processed grains are among the most damaging components of the standard American diet.

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What they’re saying

“We've gotten America to realize what we've all, in medicine, known for quite a while — [that if] you eat healthy fats, the right amount of carbohydrates and focus on protein, you're much better off.”

— Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS Administrator (Fox News)

“All the white foods, white flour, white rice, white sugar — all these tend to create obesity. Paradoxically, it's not eating fat that makes you fat. It's sugar that makes you fat, because your body processes it and stores it for future use.”

— Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS Administrator (Fox News)

“These foods have been stripped of fiber, minerals and natural nutrients, and they are absorbed quickly — leading to rapid rises in blood sugar and insulin. Over time, repeated insulin surges can drive increased fat accumulation, persistent cravings, systemic inflammation and a higher risk of insulin resistance.”

— Kendall Mackintosh, Board-Certified and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (Fox News)

“Despite decades of low-fat dietary messaging, it is often excess refined carbohydrates and sugar — rather than healthy fats — that strongly promote fat storage in the body.”

— Kendall Mackintosh, Board-Certified and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (Fox News)

What’s next

The new dietary guidelines represent a significant shift in federal nutrition policy, and it remains to be seen how the food industry, healthcare providers, and consumers will respond to the recommendations to reduce ultra-processed foods and refined carbohydrates.

The takeaway

This story highlights the growing recognition among health experts that the obesity epidemic is driven more by excess refined carbs and sugar than by healthy fats, challenging decades of low-fat dietary messaging. The new guidelines could spur changes in food manufacturing, consumer behavior, and public health approaches to tackling obesity and related chronic diseases.