If you are like many Americans, shedding a couple pounds is on your resolution list for 2004. There are many different diet plans, so a potential dieter could have difficulty figuring out which option is best. One diet that has risen in popularity over the last couple years is the Atkins diet. This low carbohydrate, high protein diet has received a lot of attention from media, consumers and health-care professionals. Yet the question remains: Is the Atkins diet the best way to lose weight? Dr. Robert C. Atkins developed the Atkins diet under the premise that a very low carbohydrate, high protein diet is the most effective way to lose weight. There are three phases to this diet. The first phase, “Induction,” allows participants to eat unlimited amounts of meat, cheese, and fat, a small amount of vegetables, no milk or fruit, and virtually no carbohydrates (20 grams, which is less than two slices of bread per day). The second phase, “on-going Weight Loss,” resembles the first stage with the addition of slightly more carbohydrates (25-30 grams per day). In the third phase, “Pre-Maintenance/ Lifetime-Maintenance,” dieters are allowed to increase their carbohydrate intake by 10 grams per day, as long as weight loss is maintained. Long-term research needs to be conducted before health professionals can recommend the Atkins diet. There is currently no evidence that proves the long-term safety and effectiveness of the Atkins diet. Two short-term studies compare Atkins dieters to traditional low-fat dieters over six- and 12-month periods. In the six-month group, Atkins dieters lost more weight than the low-fat dieters. However, in the study over 12 months, the Atkins dieters had regained much of the weight and their weight loss results were comparable to low-fat dieters. Results indicate that the Atkins diet is extremely difficult to maintain over long periods. Several factors must be tested to ensure Atkins is a safe option. It is widely accepted that a diet high in fats and saturated fats adversely affects cholesterol levels. This can lead to coronary heart disease, the number one cause of death in America. A high protein diet may also promote the growth of kidney stones and problems stemming from ketosis, which occurs when the body burns its own fat for fuel rather than burning carbohydrates for fuel as it normally would. Ketosis can lead to health problems like kidney failure. It is easy to become discouraged when trying to lose weight because regaining lost weight is common. The National Weight Control Registry is a long-term study that examines people who have lost 30 pounds or more and have kept it off for one year or longer. The study outlines the most effective weight loss techniques among these people. They found that the most successful, long term weight loss is sustained through counting calories, exercising regularly (walking, bicycling, and such), eating breakfast, and weighing oneself regularly. There is no magic pill or special diet for healthy, sustained, long-term weight loss, just a little common sense and dedication. That is a New Year’s resolution you can stick to for life. Lisa Harnack is an associate professor and nutritional epidemiologist at the U of M School of Public Health. This column is an educational service and advice presented should not take the place of an examination by a health-care professional. To ask a health-care expert at the University a question or for more health-related information, go to www.healthtalkandyou.com.
