Atkins weight loss doesn't last

[Guest guest]

I'm glad to see the truth getting out there and this fad starting to

wane. Sorry for those that like these diets, I don't want to offend

anyone, but I truly believe they are harmful. All the scientists I

have read, as well as all the big associations, have come out against

it. It is dangerous and unhealthy.

-

Study: Atkins weight loss doesn't last

Low-carb diets may cause side effects, tests show

Updated: 8:57 a.m. ET Sept. 3, 2004

 

LONDON - More than 45 million copies of the books have been sold and

everyone seems to be on it, but researchers said on Friday that

Atkins and other low-carbohydrate diets do not help people stay slim.

 

Clinical trials of low-carbohydrate diets show a greater weight loss

at six months than low-fat and reduced calorie approaches in obese

patients. But by 12 months there was no difference in the two groups.

" There is no clear evidence that Atkins-style diets are better than

any others for helping people stay slim, despite the popularity and

apparent success of the Atkins diet, " said Professor Arne Astrup of

RVA University in Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

Low-carb diets have been around since the 1860s according to Astrup

and his colleagues but the Atkins approach, which includes a

restricted intake of carbohydrates and high fat foods, has made it

popular with millions of people trying to lose weight.

 

" In the short-term (6 months) there is good evidence that the Atkins

diet is producing weight loss. It is not just fluid loss, it is

actually loss of body fat, " Astrup said in an interview.

 

" Along with the weight loss there are also beneficial changes in all

the risk factors...for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, "

he added.

 

But in a review in The Lancet medical journal, Astrup and his team

who studied three trials that looked at the longer-term effects found

that after six months, people started to regain weight.

 

Carb deficiency

Those on the Atkins diet for a year also started to complain of

headaches, muscle weakness, cramps and diarrhea, which Astrup said

could be explained by the reduced levels of fruits, vegetables and

whole-grain cereals and bread that are consumed.

 

" These symptoms are clearly consistent with a kind of carbohydrate

deficiency, " he said. " People simply do not get the 150 grams of

carbohydrates a day which is the minimal requirement for supplying

your brain and muscles with the glucose from carbohydrates that are

necessary for the organs' normal function. "

 

He added that low-carb diets are good for short-term weight loss but

after several months normal food recommendations, such as five or six

portions of fruits and vegetables a day, low fat consumption and

whole grain rice, bread and pasta products, should be followed and

coupled with exercise.

 

" There are indications that if you change your lifestyle you can

maintain the weight loss, " he added.

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5896200/

[Guest guest]

There are many who would disagree with this article. I'm not pushing

low-carb on anyone, and I respect the vegetarian lifestyle. But I

have been on low-carb for over 3 years and my weight loss has

lasted. (I'm not on Atkins but Somersize.) It is a lifestyle change

you can stay on forever. The media has distorted Atkins, making it

sound like the induction period is the whole diet. But the only time

carbs are really restricted is during that short induction period.

After that, you introduce healthy, whole-grain carbs according to

your metabolism and activity level. It's better to call

it " controlled carb " rather than low carb. And of course you eat

from ALL food groups, with LOTS of vegetables. The best part is that

you eliminate sugar and refined carbs. It really isn't a fad.

 

, " Virgil "

<cybergypsy1964> wrote:

> I'm glad to see the truth getting out there and this fad starting

to

> wane. Sorry for those that like these diets, I don't want to

offend

> anyone, but I truly believe they are harmful. All the scientists

I

> have read, as well as all the big associations, have come out

against

> it. It is dangerous and unhealthy.

> -

> Study: Atkins weight loss doesn't last

> Low-carb diets may cause side effects, tests show

> Updated: 8:57 a.m. ET Sept. 3, 2004

>

> LONDON - More than 45 million copies of the books have been sold

and

> everyone seems to be on it, but researchers said on Friday that

> Atkins and other low-carbohydrate diets do not help people stay

slim.

>

> Clinical trials of low-carbohydrate diets show a greater weight

loss

> at six months than low-fat and reduced calorie approaches in obese

> patients. But by 12 months there was no difference in the two

groups.

> " There is no clear evidence that Atkins-style diets are better

than

> any others for helping people stay slim, despite the popularity

and

> apparent success of the Atkins diet, " said Professor Arne Astrup

of

> RVA University in Copenhagen, Denmark.

>

> Low-carb diets have been around since the 1860s according to

Astrup

> and his colleagues but the Atkins approach, which includes a

> restricted intake of carbohydrates and high fat foods, has made it

> popular with millions of people trying to lose weight.

>

> " In the short-term (6 months) there is good evidence that the

Atkins

> diet is producing weight loss. It is not just fluid loss, it is

> actually loss of body fat, " Astrup said in an interview.

>

> " Along with the weight loss there are also beneficial changes in

all

> the risk factors...for cardiovascular disease and type 2

diabetes, "

> he added.

>

> But in a review in The Lancet medical journal, Astrup and his team

> who studied three trials that looked at the longer-term effects

found

> that after six months, people started to regain weight.

>

> Carb deficiency

> Those on the Atkins diet for a year also started to complain of

> headaches, muscle weakness, cramps and diarrhea, which Astrup said

> could be explained by the reduced levels of fruits, vegetables and

> whole-grain cereals and bread that are consumed.

>

> " These symptoms are clearly consistent with a kind of carbohydrate

> deficiency, " he said. " People simply do not get the 150 grams of

> carbohydrates a day which is the minimal requirement for supplying

> your brain and muscles with the glucose from carbohydrates that

are

> necessary for the organs' normal function. "

>

> He added that low-carb diets are good for short-term weight loss

but

> after several months normal food recommendations, such as five or

six

> portions of fruits and vegetables a day, low fat consumption and

> whole grain rice, bread and pasta products, should be followed and

> coupled with exercise.

>

> " There are indications that if you change your lifestyle you can

> maintain the weight loss, " he added.

>

> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5896200/