Atkins diet back on top

[Dogmudgeon]

I've been wondering why the more evangelical vegetarians have been so aggressive lately -- they must have been anticipating this study.

Study leader Christopher Gardner, a professor of medicine at Stanford University's Disease Prevention Research Center in California, told Britain's Sunday Times, "So many people have been asking questions about diets for years. We think it's time to give them some answers."

When his study is published this week, it will show of the four regimes under review, the Atkins diet resulted in the greatest weight loss -- with no indication of undesirable side-effects.

...

Gardner's study took 311 premenopausal women and divided them into four groups. Each was put onto a different diet for one year: the Atkins, the Zone, the Ornish and LEARN, which is the U.S. government's recommendation of a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet.

The 77 women in the Atkins group lost an average of 10 pounds -- around twice as much as those on the Ornish and LEARN diets -- while those on the Zone lost an average of 3.5 pounds.

The reduction of body mass index, triglycerides and blood pressure in the Atkins group was also higher than among the women of the other groups. These are all indicators of improved health.

Of course, now we have to contend with the evangelical low-carbists ...

:)

The whole enchilada: Eat To Live: Atkins diet back on top (JAMA makes peasants pay $15 for the actual paper.)

--p!

[depakid]

1. If people were vegetarians, they wouldn't have gotten fat in the first place!

I'm still not convinced that the Atkins diet is worthwhile, but the results here look interesting (pretty small n though). A high protein diet is also not something anyone wants to be on long term, as it's stressful to the kidneys.

The best way to lose weight and keep it off is still very simple- monitor your caloric intake- knock off the fats and excess sugars AND exercise.

[wake.up.america]

4. As a person who works with Germany's leading writer of nutrition books - I agree.

Bizarre diets just don't do the job.

[Dogmudgeon]

9. Declining meat consumption = increasing obesity

This is a very well-established correlation, not just in the USA, but in a number of countries. The main culprits in most of our dietary problems are sugar and highly processed starches -- the "popular" carbohydrates.

Many people don't do well on vegetarian diets. I stuck to one for nearly a year, gained over 40 pounds, and my blood sugar increased dramatically. I was convinced I was doing something wrong, and made my diet stricter and stricter. My vegetarian friends kept telling me that I HAD to be doing something wrong, and if I went back to "eating that death food," I would "blimp out" and develop all kinds of illnesses.

So I went back. I didn't die.

Low-carb approaches are certainly effective for a major subpopulation of the obese, as well as for keeping the non-obese healthy. It cuts glucose and insulin at the source. The Gardner study isn't the first pro-LC result, either; most such studies have shown the low-carb approach to be beneficial and safe. But other people may not do well on it, and may require a different approach; still others may simply be S.O.L. with any approach.

And contrary to popular misconception, even high protein intake (> 75% of calories from protein) doesn't hurt the kidneys without pre-existing kidney disease. On the other hand, glucose is quite toxic to renal tissue.

Yes, weight loss is simple, that's what everybody says. One size fits all, one approach works for everybody. Except it isn't true. Half the factors in obesity probably involve pollutants in the environment and work similarly to the twin epidemic of allergies. But the idea that obesity is a form of moral error causes people to bristle at the mention of such a thing. And not just bristle -- I've seen some intense rants over it. Each ounce of fat is an ounce of sin in the popular mind, and moral rigor is all that is required. Violate the moral calculus, and popular rage is the result.

The thing I really hate (other than the balls-to-the-wall evangelists) is how even food is becoming politicized. Meat is supposed to be conservative food, and vegetarianism is the morally liberal way to eat. Of all the offensive, health-threatening ideological fads, this has to be the worst, short-circuiting self regulation even more than TV and bad habits.

We got into this quandary by giving up our natural self-regulation; further suppressing it will only cause more grief.

--p!

[blondeatlast]

10. Self-delete; posted in the wron place. nt

[Benhurst]

12. Ghee is clarified butter, isn't it? Hardly a plant derived fat.

:shrug:

[CTyankee]

22. The thin people I know don't eat

or they don't eat much. I do think people inherit a propensity to a certain body type but every thin person I know simply does not eat that much. I don't know what it is, if they really don't like food that much or what. Of course, I fear that one of these friends is anorexic (when we have lunch together she orders salad and moves the food around on her plate a lot). Another friend I traveled with in Italy ate a small yogurt for breakfast, had a piece of fruit during the morning and if she ate what we would consider a "normal" lunch, then she would only have a salad at dinner. We also did a LOT of walking which she was avid about.

Americans eat too much, IMHO. Certainly, the Italians are not fat and they eat what we consider high fat foods but they walk a lot and they don't have huge portions. We could learn from them...

[Scout1071]

26. That is not true. I know fat vegetarians.

They are what I would call junk food vegetarians.

[Scout]

31. Atkins is NOT a "high-protein" diet, it is a low-carb diet. n/t

[dddem]

2. was this a long-term study?

I'm curious about maintaining the atkins lifestyle. I don't think I could do it. I'm also suspicious about the fact that after atkins, my brother ended up with a defibrillator. Coincidence? maybe, but I'm skeptical. I noticed that Weight Watchers wasn't on the list. Seems to me, this is the most sensible, and sustainable diet out there.

[GreenZoneLT]

3. Weight Watchers? Next you'll suggest exercise

Moderate portions? What kind of crazy, freaky diet is THAT?

I lost 30 pounds last year, but mainly by cutting out booze. And desserts. And substituting vegetables for bread. And riding a bike 20 minutes a day to work and back. And being sick for three months with whooping cough, which killed my appetite. See, anyone could do it. :P

No way I could stand Atkins long term.

[Beaverhausen]

33. Everyone I know who lost on Atkins gained MORE back when they stopped

And you are right, Weight Watchers is the most sensible diet out there.

I have been on it for 9 weeks, I'm eating healthier than I usually do, I'm eating all food groups, getting regular exercise (which they really do push) and I have lost over 17 lbs.

Atkins is BS.

[Arkansas Granny]

5. I'll try not to sound too evangelical about Atkins, but I lost 40 lbs.

on Atkins a few years ago and I've gained very little of it back. There are some misconceptions about this diet, however. You don't have to permanently remove all carbs from your diet and you do need to use a little moderation as far as your fat intake. After the first two weeks you gradually increase your carb intake to determine what level still allows you to lose weight or maintain your weight when you have reached your goal. The only changes I made long term were using a sugar substitute in my coffee and rarely eating white bread.

[soothsayer]

6. I'm digging the Beverly Hills diet. Bizarre, but you can drink on it.

Champagne all day if you want! Wine and/or cognac on all-fruit days (I'm looking forward to an entire day of grapes today---salad and pasta tomorrow), and liquor with carbs (like tomorrow). That way you don't feel left out at brunches, dinners, parties. Hard to find diets that let you drink. I've lost 16 lbs on it, and went on a modified version from Thanksgiving until this past Sunday (getting all the holidays and bday celebrations out of the way) and gained none of it back, so have started in earnest again this week. Looking forward to the next 16 lbs!

[Epiphany4z]

7. I did a modified adkins

when I first found I had diabeties...I lost weight at a great pace and my labs rocked. I am not sure how easy a diet it is to stay on though..I have since fallen off the wagon and gained much of it back...but I don't know if can blame on that on the adkins type diet or the fact that food is my drug of choice.

[woodsprite]

8. A modified Atkins is really what South Beach is.

I lost 35 lbs on that relatively painlessly and my blood numbers and bp looked really good. My doc was pleased with the results until I said I was doing South Beach. Then he said it was a fad. I don't go to that guy anymore. I gotta get back on it though. Since my hyster I have, shall we say, "fallen off the wagon". Have only gained about 5 lbs back, but I want to see that downward momentum start up again. I hope it works as well post-menopause as it did pre.

[RebelOne]

13. My doctor recommended that I go on the South Beach diet.

Not for weight loss, but to control my high cholestrol and high blood pressure.

[blondeatlast]

11. I'm insulin dependent, and I started low fat eating several years ago.

This was after having vascular problems. My carb level is about the same, but I've eliminated trans fats completely and drastically cut down on saturated fats.

My exercise regimen is about the same. I haven't lost much weight (about 10 lbs.), but I'm slimmer, fitter, and much firmer with no increase in physical activity--and oh yeah, the vascular disease is much, much improved.

Whatever works--I didn't even consider losing weight, but drastically cutting my fat intake was a revelation for me. I was close to death several years ago; you'd never know it if you saw me now. You'd mistake me for a health nut (I'm decidedly NOT one, though!).

[Beausoir]

14. I've lost over 30 pounds doing the Diabetic Diet.

Low fat. Moderate carbs..they are allowed.
Portions size is key.

Like you said, I am much firmer. My husband comments on it all the time. I still have a long way to go, but something about this diet really tightens things up!

[blondeatlast]

17. I was surprised at how I firmed up with almost no increase in exercise.

As I say, I didn't lose much weight, but I look and feel much stronger and slimmer.

I think the Diabetic Diet is probably the most sensible diet there is; low fat, low carb and well dispersed among the food groups.

After you get used to it, it's pretty damn tasty, too, really. Nothing totally off-limits, either.

BTW, from here, you look GREAT! Have you... ;)

[IDemo]

20. I am just now in the middle of Dr. Bernstein's book

Diabetes Solution. Type 1 for 45 years, and don't need to lose weight, but the concept of insulin dosages in the single units and better BG control is making this sound pretty good. Doesn't hurt having an Atkins evangelical in the next cubicle, either! :)

[blondeatlast]

15. Regarding the low-carb evangelicals: I used to frequent a GREAT diabetes forum

on a very well-known health site and gave it up when they virtually took over the board several years ago.

I have no problem with people using the Atkins appraoch, but different things work for different people. The LCEs had NO respect for those not on Atkins. That's not peer-to-peer recommendation, that' a cult and just about as scary.

I've not been back since.

[Rosemary2205]

16. I'd like to see the age of death for adkins lifetimers.

You can't convince me low fiber, low fruits and veggies (nutrients) is good for the human body for a lifetime.

[Dogmudgeon]

23. "You can't convince me ..."

There you have it.

The question is: are you able to accept new findings without getting shaken?

Food and weight issues have become politicized and turned into a part of our systems of morality. People often don't recognize this. As one wag (me) said, "Food is the new Sex."

It goes both ways. Although I support the low-carb diet, it's not my religion, and if the data showed that it was bad news, I'd drop it without hesitation. But the scientific data supporting it is quite robust now. "Not enough data!" doesn't really cut it as a rebuttal anymore.

The second thing, regarding your post, is that you have some factually incorrect information. Atkins, the Eadeses, and Yudkin (the main developers of the modern low-carb diet) do NOT restrict non-starchy vegetables, and they also include fruits in their diets. When I was on a low-carb diet, I ate about two pounds (fresh weight) of vegetables a day. I didn't live on "bacon and brie" (in Dean Ornish's words), but meats, eggs, around 3-4 ounces of cheese a day, and lots of greens. I also continued to use soluble fiber supplement. That's similar to most other peoples' LC dieting.

Low carb eating is likely to prolong life by reducing insulin and glucose-related damage. AGEs -- destructive Age-Related Glycation compounds -- do not form nearly as readily without plenty of sugar.

So, again, you have to ask yourself, in any situation where you get new information, "can I accept something radically new and maybe contrary to my previous ideas?"

And, of course, avoid MSM-only sources of medical information!

--p!

[Rosemary2205]

24. There is an enormous difference between

a sensible reduced carb diet and the general practice involving adkins. I have no problem with a reduced carb diet or even adkins, zone, south beach or any other modified carb diet to get people off the massive carb diets they are on. However, nearly all the people I know who are doing this for weight loss are not getting the fiber and nutrients they need from their diet. They don't buy the book, they don't read the book, they don't educate themselves. The wing it and think all the meat and cheese they can eat and a veggie here or there is fine.

I'll also add, that if your body is not functioning properly without a fiber supplement then you are not getting enough fiber from your diet.

Please understand me, I'm not saying the modern high starch, high fat diet is GOOD. I'm saying restricting fruits and veggies too much is not good either......hense the need for supplements.

[Lurking Dem]

18. I've been doing low or lowish carbs most of my life.

Helps control my blood sugars (type 1).

The more carbs I eat, the more insulin I have to take. Insulin is a fat growth hormone. The more insulin I take, the more weight I gain. I get non starchy veggies, very small amounts of fruit as my main carb sources. If I do grains at all they have to be very high fiber.

I would think in a "normal" (recognizing how subjective that can be on DU ;) ) person, lowering the amount of insulin produced naturally would result in weight loss.

But everybody's body is different and some are going to do well on diet a and some on diet b.

[woodsprite]

28. I'm going to show my Bro this thread. He was just

diagnosed with type 2 diabetes with a blood sugar of 300. His doc did not talk to him about diet at all but put him on 3 types of oral meds and told him to check his blood sugar once a day. So far my bro is very discouraged. With the meds, his sugar has come down to 250, but he's still eating the same way he always had and he said the doc wants his sugars to be between 75 and 120.

He might be my older brother, but not necessarily "older and wiser". Dumb bunny is more like it. Until I could get more info to him, I told him to stay away from anything white or sweet - white sugar, white potatoes, white flour items, white rice, carrots, peas, cakes, cookies, etc. Pump up the proteins and veggies if he's hungry. Then I told him he needed to find another doctor - pronto!

[Lurking Dem]

29. Diabetes treatment

is three legs of a stool.

One is medication.

One is exercise.

One is diet.

If you aren't doing all three then you aren't doing enough.

If your doctor isn't educating you about all three, then he is not following the established Standards of Care for diabetes treatment and you should probably find somebody else.

[bullwinkle428]

19. NONE of these weight losses are particularly impressive, as the

study took place over the course of a year - I heard a report on this study yesterday on NPR. Another thing they had mentioned - the "Atkins Diet" has become somewhat bastardized over the years, as Atkins himself stressed that fats from vegetable sources are considerably more healthy for you than those from animal sources; i.e., the "no fruits or veggies" is misunderstood by many of its practitioners.

[Lurking Dem]

21. That is correct.

Fruit may be limited at the beginning of the diet but salads are a mainstay. I eat low carb but manage to keep the bulk of my fat and protein vegetable source.

[VelmaD]

25. I lost 150 pound the old fashioned way

eating less, eating healthier (more fruits and veggies, less refined sugar, no fast food), and exercising more. It ain't rocket science.

[Gormy Cuss]

27. Yep. For most people that is the 'diet' that works best.

The best diet plans teach you how to eat and live in a more healthful way. Since we all bring different attitudes and experiences to the table, there is no one-size-fits-all way to implement the simple truth of eating more healthful food and moving your body. All that a good diet plan does is educate people on how to accomplish that.

[bmbmd]

30. Excellent. And it takes a long time.

You accomplished a complete lifestyle makeover, and that is what it takes.

[VelmaD]

32. nobody ever wants to hear that answer either...

when they ask me how I did it. Everyone wants there to be a magic bullet...something they can do that will melt the weight off right now with no work on their part.