Television nutritionist's 'worthless' degree

Gillian McKeith, who hosts Channel 4's "You Are What You Eat", has been accused of misleading the public.

11:04 03 August 2004

Gillian McKeith, who hosts Channel 4's "You Are What You Eat", has been accused of misleading the public.

According to The Sun newspaper the nutritionist "holds a 'worthless' PhD in holistic nutrition gained via a postal course at a backwater US college".

This, the paper claims, does not justify her self-description as one of the "world's top nutritionists".

The Sun reports that McKeith has a doctorate from Alabama's Clayton College of Natural Health, while her management team claims that she has a doctorate and a masters degree from the American College of Nutrition.

And a lack of western medical knowledge is on display in her programmes and in her books, some experts have asserted.

Dr Edzard Ernst, professor of complimentary medicine at Exeter University, told The Sun: "In the show I saw there was a total lack of real medical issues. Her theories on food-combining are perfect rubbish."

Amanda Wynne, senior dietician at the British Dietetic Association, added: "We're concerned. Some of the things she says just aren't true."

McKeith said last night her management team had given an incorrect list of qualifications.

She told the Sun she was surprised anyone thought she was a medical doctor, adding: "I've never claimed to be."