MSNBC: Study casts doubt on advantages of Atkins diet

[jbooma]

Curious if anyone here has been on it for a year and what do they think.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4999116/

Low-carb regimen
no better than low-fat
after a year

By Robert Bazell
Correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 7:41 p.m. ET May 17, 2004Like millions of Americans, James and Suzy Gelman went on the Atkins low-carbohydrate diet because they thought it was a way to lose weight quickly and eat lots of the foods they love.

“My main eating problem is portion control, and Atkins offered a way to eat a lot of steak, and chicken and that type of stuff,” says James Gelman.

Even physicians have been attracted to the diet. Dr. Linda Stern of the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Hospital liked it so much she decided to study it. What was it about the Atkins diet that appealed to her?

“I had just gotten back from a vacation where I had gained a few pounds, and I tried it," says Stern. “And I was surprised to see how quickly and easily I lost the few pounds that I had gained.”

But does the weight stay off? Stern experimented with 132 obese patients — half went on the Atkins diet, while half ate a standard low-fat diet.

“The results: After six months, the low-carbohydrate group lost significantly more weight than the group following the low-fat diet,” says Stern.

The Atkins Diet was created by Dr. Robert C. Atkins, founder and medical director of the Atkins Center for Complementary Medicine in New York. What follows are answers to some FAQs provided by the Atkins Center and is not a recommendation for or against the plan. Remember, you should always check with your doctor before changing your dietary habits.

Focusing on the consumption of nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods and vita-nutrient supplementation, the Atkins diet restricts processed/refined carbohydrates, such as high-sugar foods, breads, pasta, cereal and starchy vegetables.

While some Atkins dieters eat fewer calories than before, Atkins says it's not because the diet is unduly limiting of food intake, but rather because people are generally less hungry and are less obsessed with food. The reason:

Stable blood sugar throughout the day ensures that you will have fewer food cravings or false hunger pains.

The food you eat (meat, fish, cheese, nuts, eggs, low sugar/starch vegetables and fruit, etc.) is less processed and more nutritious.

You'll start to burn fat for energy: Since carbohydrates are the body's primary energy source, you'll start to use your secondary energy source, you own body fat, for energy.
You won't feel hungry in between meals: By cutting the carbs, you'll maintain a more even blood sugar level throughout the day.

Your overall health will improve and you'll feel better: Many of the toxins you take into your body are stored in your fat cells. By getting your body to burn stored fat, you allow it to clean itself out.


While intake of carbs is limited and the diet tends to be high in protein, Atkins cannot provide the exact percentages of each food group for the general population as it is individualized depending on a person’s sensitivity to carbohydrates, among other factors.


A person who performs a lot of aerobic exercise and who doesn't have a weight problem has no reason to be on a carbohydrate-restricted diet, Atkins says.


The diet calls for core vita-nutrient supplementation with a full-spectrum multi-vitamin and an essential oils/fatty acid formula.


The Atkins Diet is not a no-carbohydrate diet. The diet focuses on very limited consumption of the types of carbohydrates that tend to spike blood sugar levels the most, including non-whole grain bread, pastas, refined sugar products, juices and high sugar/starchy fruits and vegetables.


While many lament the consumption of fat as the root of America's weight problem, Atkins says that fat consumption has actually declined the past few decades. It’s carbohydrate consumption (mostly refined) that has increased, he says. During this time:

Obesity increased from 25 percent of the population to 33 percent. Heart disease now accounts for 50 percent of all deaths, up from 40 percent in the 1970s


And that finding, along with several similar studies, made big news — especially because cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease actually improved on the Atkins diet.

But in research released Monday, Stern finds that while the Atkins diet worked better for the first six months, after a year, the weight of the two groups became almost the same. Other studies are reaching the same conclusion.

Dr. Glenn Gasser of the University of Virginia predicts this longer-term research is the beginning of the end of the Atkins fad. “My guess is that, in a few years, people will look at themselves in the mirror and they won’t see much difference in this low-carb diet they’ve been on for a number of years, and will go on to something else.”

That is what James and Suzy Gelman have decided. “Moderation — it’s a boring concept, but it seems to be the one that works best."

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

Well the study confirmed that after 6 months the low-carb group lost more weight.

I would wonder how disciplined people remained after a year.

But I'll say this, Atkins is only one variation of low-carbing it.

Kenechi Udeze lost his weight due to low-carb and has maintained it.

Another thing is, eating higher carb(but low fat) diets will increase the insulin production and that's not really a good thing. It's cool to eat tons of starchy, high carb stuff if you are extraordinarily active(like a real endurance athlete) but not if you aren't.

1) When they want to fatten animals up, they throw them grainy food.

2) My mom is diabetic and the low-carb approach is the only one that you can trust to keep blood sugar levels down and have a HOPE of losing weight.

Sorry, I think much of the medical establishment is just PO'd their pet low-fat diet recommendations don't work, ESPECIALLY early on. THe reason people like the low-carb diet is that within a short period of time it ACTUALLY WORKS and they don't feel like they're starving(and they feel more energetic cuz they're not eating the high carb junk)

[TheDoyler23]

I checked the nutritional info when I made myself some scrambled eggs for breakfast the other day. One egg has 71% of a days cholesterol! There's no way a breakfast of that and bacon is a healthy meal. In the meantime, I'm switching to the fake eggs.....

[fwo40]

Hmmm...this just in: The key to maintaining weight loss is eating balanced meals and excercise.

Hmmm...excercise what a novel concept.

And "moderation" man what a new cutting edge idea. Where can I buy the t-shirt?

[Destino]

Anyway you slice it Atkins lets you lose weight fast and is easier to stick to then the "low fat diet" which as all of us know means "eat tasteless sh*t"

The key to making the atkins diet work is to #1 stick too it and as you go along decrease your portion size and develope healthier eating habits. A diet isn't a solution, it's a way to LOSE weight, which should not be the goal of a person that reaches a ideal wieght. You have to learn to not GAIN weight, which means ditch the diet but DO NOT go to the store to celebrate with three bags of chips a gallon of ice cream and a bed of twinkies.

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

Originally posted by BDBuddy23
I checked the nutritional info when I made myself some scrambled eggs for breakfast the other day. One egg has 71% of a days cholesterol! There's no way a breakfast of that and bacon is a healthy meal. In the meantime, I'm switching to the fake eggs.....

BD, One problem is the information never gives you LDL v. HDL numbers. If I'm not mistaken much of the egg's cholesterol is "good" cholesterol and thus does not figure the same way.

Though it might be recommended that you use some egg whites.

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

Originally posted by Destino
Anyway you slice it Atkins lets you lose weight fast and is easier to stick to then the "low fat diet" which as all of us know means "eat tasteless sh*t"

The key to making the atkins diet work is to #1 stick too it and as you go along decrease your portion size and develope healthier eating habits. A diet isn't a solution, it's a way to LOSE weight, which should not be the goal of a person that reaches a ideal wieght. You have to learn to not GAIN weight, which means ditch the diet but DO NOT go to the store to celebrate with three bags of chips a gallon of ice cream and a bed of twinkies.

Exactly, man.

People are acting like the way Atkins starts is the way it finishes or illustrating their lack of understanding about the effects of low-fat and high-carb diets vs. low-carb and moderate-fat.

Bed of twinkies. I can just picture it.:laugh:

[TheDoyler23]

Originally posted by Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin


BD, One problem is the information never gives you LDL v. HDL numbers. If I'm not mistaken much of the egg's cholesterol is "good" cholesterol and thus does not figure the same way.

Though it might be recommended that you use some egg whites.

ah, that's right! Good cholerserol. It was juts a little disconcerting to think I ate 213% of a days cholerterol in one meal.:hungry:

[Symbol]

Originally posted by BDBuddy23


ah, that's right! Good cholerserol. It was juts a little disconcerting to think I ate 213% of a days cholerterol in one meal.:hungry:

I have a kid on my team at WR, he's 6' 4", weighs between 190-195 lbs. and told me he eats a 6 egg omlett, with sausage and cheese, with a half pound of bacon and juice for breakfast. I'm still wondering how he stays thin. When I was in shape I couldn't eat something like that.

[jbooma]

Originally posted by Symbol


I have a kid on my team at WR, he's 6' 4", weighs between 190-195 lbs. and told me he eats a 6 egg omlett, with sausage and cheese, with a half pound of bacon and juice for breakfast. I'm still wondering how he stays thin. When I was in shape I couldn't eat something like that.

I can agree with the egg debate but a half pound of bacon?? I am not a doctor but how can that be healthy?

[TankRizzo]

All "diets" are pointless anyhow. If you're out of shape, I'll save you the time and effort of doing the diet thing and just tell you to pack on an additional 5lbs to your current weight that you're going to gain as soon as you go off of the diet (which obviously includes the weight you lost).

That said Atkins does what it's supposed to do, helps you lose weight fast. But dieting is worthless unless you plan on staying on it your entire life or if you couple it with some sort of physical activity.

[Riggo-toni]

The Low Fat diet is a fraud, plain and simple. Most foods marketed as "Low Fat" actually contain enormous amounts of artificial Trans-Fats, which the gov't doesn't count (at least not for the next 2 years)), and which do far more damage to your cholestorol and arteries than any natural fats. Also, unsaturated and omega fats are very healthy. People SHOULD consume more olive oil and coldwater fish (though avoid large predator fish like tuna because of mercury poisoning).

Want to lose weight - eat fewer calories. It's really that f*ckin' simple. That's why most diets work - if people simply stick to them. Any diet that cuts out desserts, bread, potatoes, etc. will mean you're eating fewer calories.

I'm diabetic, and weigh 165 lbs. My weight hasn't budged in years. I essentially eat a low glycemic (carbs * glycemic index) diet to keep my levels down. I don't follow any marketed diet per se, though I suppose what I eat is closest to the South Beach diet. I eat more in terms of quantity than anybody I know (really), but I NEVER cheat on my diet. I haven't eaten a potato or rice in years, for example. But it's not unusual for me to sit down at dinner and wolf down a pound and a half of Salmon and a couple of roasted peppers.

[Die Hard]

Originally posted by TankRizzo
That said Atkins does what it's supposed to do, helps you lose weight fast. But dieting is worthless unless you plan on staying on it your entire life or if you couple it with some sort of physical activity.

You do recognize that both Atkins and Weightwatchers have different levels of maintenance designed to keep you eating healthy for your entire life without deprivation right?

Most people are so narrow-minded and think diet as a quick, temporary solution to lose weight with discipline.

The idea of the new diets is to change your eating habits permanently. And each faze incorporates changes and new foods which increase variety and the liklihood you'll remain on the diet. As you progress through the stages.... it accomodates you.

Unfortunately, 90% of the population has heard about the Atkins diet and makes the association of the "Induction" phase that is supposed to last 2 weeks.

No one seems to want to read up on the rest of it.

And just like low fat... you're going to be seeing a change in the American diet towards low-carb. Sooner or later, it HAS to change. It will change.

Obesity cannot continue at the rate it currently has. If it does, 10 years it'll become more crtical than cancer, terrorism or the economy.

When it reaches the level where 80% is affected by it... and it effects peoples' day-to-day lives... it'll get priority pretty quickly.

[bulmer1]

The only problem with Atkins is that it actually turns your body against itself by eating itself. Thats how the induction phase works so quick. People who continue the induction phase too long are essentially poisioning the fat away. If it's done correctly it is a decent diet but its just that-a diet. The most important thing is execise with balanced meals not cut this out or dont eat that.

[TankRizzo]

Originally posted by Die Hard


You do recognize that both Atkins and Weightwatchers have different levels of maintenance designed to keep you eating healthy for your entire life without deprivation right?

Most people are so narrow-minded and think diet as a quick, temporary


I know, that's what I was getting at but I guess I didn't get that point across too well. Most people that go on "diets" do so for a couple months, lose the weight to their intended goal and then fall right back off the wagon. It takes a lot of committment to stay on one of those diets for basically the rest of your life...committment that people typically don't tend to have. If you want to lose weight you'd better serve yourself by getting a gym membership. When you're into going to the gym routinely you feel guilty when you miss. Not quite the same when you're on a diet and have a doughnut. The sugary delight is usually enough to set things into a downward spiral. Sitting around doing nothing and feeling guilty for it you simply aren't rewarded the same way.

[TankRizzo]

oh yeah....a little word to the wise for people on atkins....drink a LOT of water or risk getting a kidney stone :o

[Die Hard]

Originally posted by TankRizzo
oh yeah....a little word to the wise for people on atkins....drink a LOT of water or risk getting a kidney stone :o

That comes as a consequence of eating lots of dairy. I'm willing to admit knowledge of that. So it applies to anybody where diary products are a staple of your diet.

[jbooma]

DH curious if you have heard of "Fit for Life", and what do you think of that methodology of eating?

[Die Hard]

Originally posted by bulmer1
The only problem with Atkins is that it actually turns your body against itself by eating itself.

You make the body's process of burning stored fat sound so awful.

Of course, if you don't eat enough protein, your body begins to utilize your lean muscle mass.

So let's go overboard with these analogies.

[Die Hard]

Originally posted by jbooma
DH curious if you have heard of "Fit for Life", and what do you think of that methodology of eating?

Haven't read it or heard about it.

[jbooma]

Originally posted by Die Hard


Haven't read it or heard about it.

It is a way of eating based purely on how your digestive system works. Very interesting and natural.

[SkinsNumberOne]

Originally posted by jbooma
DH curious if you have heard of "Fit for Life", and what do you think of that methodology of eating?
I have a friend who read some book about it and now swears by it. I didn't see him for a few months (he used to work at the same company and then switched to another) but can attest to very positive changes in his appearance- clearly lost weight and gained muscle.

[TankRizzo]

Originally posted by Die Hard


That comes as a consequence of eating lots of dairy. I'm willing to admit knowledge of that. So it applies to anybody where diary products are a staple of your diet.



you did see my last post on Pg 1, right? :o Just making sure you didn't think that THAT was my rebuttal. I swear, at least 70% of my posts are the last one on any given page :D

[Monte51Coleman]

When it comes to healthy eating the first rule should be "white is not right" when it comes to carbs. White bread, white rice, white potatoes, traditional pastas, and of course white sugar should be avoided completely. These simple carbs are converted into sugar by your body. The sugar that you do not burn off gets stored as fat.
If you want to think that you can eat a lot of dairy and high fat meats and be healthy it's your perogative. But any diet that advises the intake of sausage over vegetables should be looked at very closely.
Also, non-diet sodas are the devil in disguise.

[Monte51Coleman]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by riggo-toni
[B]The Low Fat diet is a fraud, plain and simple. Most foods marketed as "Low Fat" actually contain enormous amounts of artificial Trans-Fats, which the gov't doesn't count (at least not for the next 2 years)), and which do far more damage to your cholestorol and arteries than any natural fats. Also, unsaturated and omega fats are very healthy. People SHOULD consume more olive oil and coldwater fish (though avoid large predator fish like tuna because of mercury poisoning).

You are absolutely correct riggo. However, you can be on a low-fat eating plan without falling for all of that prepackaged crap that is marketed as low fat.

[Die Hard]

Originally posted by Monte51Coleman
But any diet that advises the intake of sausage over vegetables should be looked at very closely.

What diet is that? I know Atkins pretty well.. and I know that's not the case.

so please share. be specific when you answer.

[Riggo-toni]

Absolutely right M51C, but...

Not all fats are created equal. Some are actually beneficial. A low saturated-fat diet is a good thing. However, the two areas in the world with the greatest longevity for its population are Okinawa Japan and one of the Greek Islands (I believe it's Crete, but can't remember for sure. Both populations consume large degrees of fat from seafood, nuts, or olive oil. All these raise good cholesterol, and thus stave off heart attacks and stroke.

By the way, from all I've read on Atkins, green veggies are one of the absolute main staples of the diet. The bit about Atkins being all beef and pork is pure myth. After the first 2 weeks, one is supposed to eat berries and other low carb fruits along with the green veggies and protein.

[GoSkins561]

I do think and live by the rule that Carbs will add to your gut, I eat Carbs during the day, and not at night. I couldnt eliminate carbs form my diet, what would i drink on the weekends i.e. beer, jack and cokes, pina colodas, wine etc etc etc. The most important thing to staying lean, like many of you have said is exercising, whether you eat carbs all day or do not eat carbs at all.

[GoSkins561]

All i can say is dont let your wife/husband try the South Beach diet it is way to healthy. LOL

[Monte51Coleman]

Originally posted by Die Hard


What diet is that? I know Atkins pretty well.. and I know that's not the case.

so please share. be specific when you answer.

DH- I will try to be as specific as I can. The induction phase of Atkins advises one to eat liberal amounts of eggs, meat and fish, including beef, pork, chicken, turkey, duck, wild game, shellfish, veal and lamb. Liberal amounts of fats and oils are permitted. These include butter, olive oil, and mayonnaise. You may have up to three cups of loosely packed salad vegetables each day. Examples are leafy green vegetables, mushrooms, celery, radishes, green peppers, and cucumbers.

My statement that you quoted may have been exagerated but it was not extreme. You can eat liberal amounts of sausage, bacon, and other high fat sources of protein but whatever you do don't eat broccoli, yams, or carrots.

I am constantly amazed by the amount of seemingly intelligent people who. feel that Adkins-like diets give them a free pass to eat as if they were sixteen again. (I am not referring to you.)

[Monte51Coleman]

Originally posted by riggo-toni
Absolutely right M51C, but...

Not all fats are created equal. Some are actually beneficial. A low saturated-fat diet is a good thing. However, the two areas in the world with the greatest longevity for its population are Okinawa Japan and one of the Greek Islands (I believe it's Crete, but can't remember for sure. Both populations consume large degrees of fat from seafood, nuts, or olive oil. All these raise good cholesterol, and thus stave off heart attacks and stroke.

By the way, from all I've read on Atkins, green veggies are one of the absolute main staples of the diet. The bit about Atkins being all beef and pork is pure myth. After the first 2 weeks, one is supposed to eat berries and other low carb fruits along with the green veggies and protein.

riggo- You have obviously educated yourself in this area and I applaud you. Your points on healthy fats are right on, and they are points that I practice in my diet daily. I also avoid the "white foods" that I detailed in my earlier posting. I realize that Adkins allows for some vegetables... I was trying to make a point about what I see as an unhealthy balance that they prescribe.

I eat lean sources of protein, an abundance of vegetables, and fruit in moderation. Gasp! Not fruit! Not corn and carrots! They have high sugar content! Well they also are packed with vitamins and minerals so I'm willing to take the chance with them. (I know you are diabetic and all of these things may not be right for you.)
I do 30 minutes of cardio every other day and weight train twice a week. I am 6' 178lbs at 46 years of age and carry a body fat level of around 10%. These things work for me. I would love to hear your eating plan...hopefully I can learn something from you.

[TheKurp]

Regarding eggs and other sources of dietary cholesterol, they have very little to do with blood (serum) cholesterol. I don't how a food label can determine the RDA for dietary cholesterol since there is no such thing.

You want to lower your serum cholesterol? Reduce the amount of saturated fat you consume. This will lower the low-density lipoproteins in the blood stream. Eating eggs or not eating eggs will not affect your serum cholesterol to any significant degree.

Also recognize that what you really ought to be concerned with is the ratio of high-density lipoproteins to low-density lipoproteins. I.e., HDL to LDL ratios. Two people can have identical total serum cholesterol readings but one be at a greater risk of heart disease because they have a lower reading of HDL.

So, let's say two people have a total cholesterol reading of 220.

Person A: LDL -190 HDL - 30

Person B: LDL - 170 HDL - 50


Everything else being equal, Person B stands less chance of heart disease than Person A.

[BG]

Originally posted by Monte51Coleman


DH- I will try to be as specific as I can. The induction phase of Atkins advises one to eat liberal amounts of eggs, meat and fish, including beef, pork, chicken, turkey, duck, wild game, shellfish, veal and lamb. Liberal amounts of fats and oils are permitted. These include butter, olive oil, and mayonnaise. You may have up to three cups of loosely packed salad vegetables each day. Examples are leafy green vegetables, mushrooms, celery, radishes, green peppers, and cucumbers.

My statement that you quoted may have been exagerated but it was not extreme. You can eat liberal amounts of sausage, bacon, and other high fat sources of protein but whatever you do don't eat broccoli, yams, or carrots.

I am constantly amazed by the amount of seemingly intelligent people who. feel that Adkins-like diets give them a free pass to eat as if they were sixteen again. (I am not referring to you.)



People blow Atkins way out of proportion because they don't understand it. I gave it upthree times before I actually really started. I got some good advice ehre and have lost 40 lbs. DH was right about the stages thing. You can't stay on the first phase too long. You are supposed to start slowly balancing your protein & fat/ carb ratio. That is the process ina nutshell.

Here is a list of Vegtables that you can eat.



1 each Artichoke hearts, marinated 1.0
6 each Asparagus spears 3.8
0.5 cup Beans, green 4.9
1 cup Bok Choi 1.5
0.5 cup Broccoflower 3.1
0.5 cup Broccoli 3.9
0.5 cup Broccoli rabe 2.0
6 each Brussels sprouts 10.9
0.5 cup Cabbage, green 1.9
0.5 cup Cabbage, red 1.9
0.5 cup Cabbage, savoy 2.1
6 each Cauliflower 4.4
1 each Celery stalk 1.5
1 tbs Celery, chopped 0.3
1 each Chili Pepper 0.0
1 tbs Chilies, green, chopped 0.5
1 each Cucumber, English 4.0
0.5 each Cucumber, small 2.5
0.5 cup Daikon 1.8
0.5 cup Eggplant 3.3
0.5 cup Eggplant, Italian 3.3 1
0.5 cup Endive 1.8
0.5 cup Escarole 0.8
0.5 cup Fennel 3.2
1 cup Greens, mixed 1.6 1.2 0.4 0.1 0.9 9
0.5 cup Kale 3.7
1 cup Lettuce, butterhead 1.3
1 cup Lettuce, romaine 1.3
0.5 cup Mushroom, portabello 1.4
0.5 cup Mushrooms, fresh 1.4
0.25 cup Onions, green 1.8
0.5 cup Pepper, green 4.8
0.5 cup Pepper, red 4.8
1 each Peppers, jalapeno 0.8
0.5 each Peppers, roasted 2.4
0.5 cup Radicchio 0.9
6 each Radishes 1.0
0.5 cup Rhubarb 2.8
1 cup Spinach, raw 1.1
1 each Squash, zucchini 5.7
0.5 cup Swiss chard 0.7
1 each Tomatillos 2.0
1 each Tomato, plum 4.2
1 each Tomato, small 4.2
6 each Tomatoes, cherry 4.7
0.5 cup Tomatoes, chopped 3.5
0.25 cup Tomatoes, sun dried, oil-packed 6.4
0.5 cup Turnips 3.8
0.5 cup Watercress 0.2