Nina Teicholz

Nina Teicholz, PhD is an investigative science journalist challenging conventional wisdom on dietary fat and advocating for evidence-based nutrition policy. After the release of her New York Times bestselling book, ‘The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet’ in 2014, Nina Teicholz became a pivotal investigative science journalist challenging conventional wisdom on dietary fat. The book was recognized as a top non-fiction book of 2014 by The Wall Street Journal and one of the year’s best science books by The Economist, in addition to garnering positive reviews from prestigious medical journals including The Lancet, The BMJ, and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Prior to her focus on nutrition science, Teicholz cultivated her journalistic expertise as a reporter for National Public Radio and contributed to publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker.

The NASEM follow-up report, a direct result of her persistent encouragement, was subsequently delivered in two parts in 2022 and 2023. During this period, Teicholz co-authored multiple peer-reviewed papers that critically examined the US Dietary Guidelines. These included ‘An analysis of the recent US dietary guidelines process in light of its federal mandate and a National Academies report’ (2022) and ‘Conflicts of interest for members of the U.S. 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’ (2022).

Her rigorous research and publications meticulously documented issues such as the lack of rigorous methodology, ignored scientific evidence, and conflicts of interest within advisory committees. Most recently, Nina Teicholz received her Ph.D. in nutrition in 2024 from the University of Reading, with a focus on evidence-based nutrition policy. As an acclaimed investigative science journalist and author, she continues to advocate for dietary patterns grounded in rigorous data to address chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.