The institutionalisation and deinstitutionalisation of the cholesterol theory

Abstract

The linking of fat consumption to cholesterol and heart disease (the cholesterol theory) is a good example of institutionalisation. It is also the story of researchers struggling to prove the benefit of one theory over others at a time when several theories of causes of coronary heart disease competed for legitimacy. In the United States, after the Second World War, the alarming increase of cases of coronary heart diseases, and early promising research, allowed the new cholesterol theory to readily gain public acceptance. However, 60 years later subsequent studies, that question the initial hypothesis, appear to have started a deinstitutionalisation of the cholesterol theory. This paper examines institutionalisation and deinstitutionalisation through the example of the cholesterol theory.

Keywords:

• Institutionalisation
• deinstitutionalisation
• cholesterol theory
• legitimation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Catalin Silviu Neculita

Catalin Silviu Neculita is a PhD student in Management at Carleton University, Sprott School of Business, Ottawa (Canada). He received a Master of Engineering degree from McGill University, Montreal (Canada). He is member of CPA, CGA Ontario. His interests are related to performance measurement and management, and organisational theory.

Ruth McKay

Ruth McKay is an Associate Professor at Carleton University in the Sprott School of Business in the area of management and strategy. Research Ruth engages in includes organizational theory, workplace bullying and resilience and climate adaptation in residential housing.