nobimbo
Tue, Oct-12-04, 04:26
Mon. Oct. 11 2004 5:35 PM ET
Low-carb Atkins lashes out at other diet programs
Canadian Press
TORONTO — Too much turkey got you thinking about a quickie diet?
Think again, say the champions of the no-bread craze.
Those behind the Atkins plan have come out swinging against other eating programs in the wake of new federal regulations that target low-carb claims.
Nevermind that many consider the Atkins approach to be a fad itself.
Atkins Nutritionals Inc. is issuing its first-ever "health warning" saying its "lifelong" approach is better than get-thin-quick schemes.
"Quick-fix diets tend not to work if it's not part of a lifelong nutritional plan," says company medical director Dr. Stuart Trager, not naming names.
"It's not sustainable and leads to yo-yo dieting."
Atkins pushes meat, eggs and cheese while restricting so-called bad carbs such as bread, rice and fruit, especially at the beginning of the program.
Adherents boast of immediate weight loss but critics say it's overly restrictive, not advised for active people and is difficult to maintain, leading to eventual weight gain.
"Many people focus only on the first phase," complains Trager, referring to the diet's "induction" stage.
"What Atkins does is teach people to make smarter choices to control their carbohydrates."
Whether it's smarter or not is up for debate, according to the federal government.
New labelling regulations take effect next year that force food and beverage packaging to eliminate all references to low-carbohydrate benefits.
Carb content must be listed on the packaging, but other carb-related claims, including those in the product's brand name or trademark, would be prohibited.
It's a bold step to counter low-carb health claims led by Atkins, but also championed by the popular South Beach and Scarsdale diets.
Many low-carb diets are quite "sensible" and weight loss can occur rapidly, but the long-term effects have yet to be tested, says Dr. David Jenkins, Canada Research Chair in Nutrition and Metabolism.
"Will these diets end up raising cholesterol levels to the extent that we deem unacceptable?" Jenkins asks.
In the end, Jenkins warns dieting in its "extreme form" is always dangerous.
The best safeguard against obesity is to eat sensibly and exercise, he says.
Trager says Atkins recommends nutrient-dense carbohydrates as well as a variety of protein and good fats such as those in fish and vegetable oils.
Limiting bad carbohydrates controls blood sugar, allowing the body to more effectively burn excess fat, Trager says from Philadelphia, Pa.
His attack on fad diets follows an Atkins-commissioned survey that found an apparently disillusioned public when it comes to dieting.
The survey, conducted by Ekos Research Associates in August, asked 1,026 Canadians about diet issues including post-diet weight gain and eating habits.
More than 50 per cent agreed low-carb diets are a fast way to lose weight, but more than one-third said it was a bad approach. More than half of those surveyed said they were unsure of low-carb claims.
Eighty-nine per cent said they understood the risks of fad dieting while 73 per cent were aware of the negative impact of yo-yo dieting.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1097530543616_21/?hub=Health
Low-carb Atkins lashes out at other diet programs
Canadian Press
TORONTO — Too much turkey got you thinking about a quickie diet?
Think again, say the champions of the no-bread craze.
Those behind the Atkins plan have come out swinging against other eating programs in the wake of new federal regulations that target low-carb claims.
Nevermind that many consider the Atkins approach to be a fad itself.
Atkins Nutritionals Inc. is issuing its first-ever "health warning" saying its "lifelong" approach is better than get-thin-quick schemes.
"Quick-fix diets tend not to work if it's not part of a lifelong nutritional plan," says company medical director Dr. Stuart Trager, not naming names.
"It's not sustainable and leads to yo-yo dieting."
Atkins pushes meat, eggs and cheese while restricting so-called bad carbs such as bread, rice and fruit, especially at the beginning of the program.
Adherents boast of immediate weight loss but critics say it's overly restrictive, not advised for active people and is difficult to maintain, leading to eventual weight gain.
"Many people focus only on the first phase," complains Trager, referring to the diet's "induction" stage.
"What Atkins does is teach people to make smarter choices to control their carbohydrates."
Whether it's smarter or not is up for debate, according to the federal government.
New labelling regulations take effect next year that force food and beverage packaging to eliminate all references to low-carbohydrate benefits.
Carb content must be listed on the packaging, but other carb-related claims, including those in the product's brand name or trademark, would be prohibited.
It's a bold step to counter low-carb health claims led by Atkins, but also championed by the popular South Beach and Scarsdale diets.
Many low-carb diets are quite "sensible" and weight loss can occur rapidly, but the long-term effects have yet to be tested, says Dr. David Jenkins, Canada Research Chair in Nutrition and Metabolism.
"Will these diets end up raising cholesterol levels to the extent that we deem unacceptable?" Jenkins asks.
In the end, Jenkins warns dieting in its "extreme form" is always dangerous.
The best safeguard against obesity is to eat sensibly and exercise, he says.
Trager says Atkins recommends nutrient-dense carbohydrates as well as a variety of protein and good fats such as those in fish and vegetable oils.
Limiting bad carbohydrates controls blood sugar, allowing the body to more effectively burn excess fat, Trager says from Philadelphia, Pa.
His attack on fad diets follows an Atkins-commissioned survey that found an apparently disillusioned public when it comes to dieting.
The survey, conducted by Ekos Research Associates in August, asked 1,026 Canadians about diet issues including post-diet weight gain and eating habits.
More than 50 per cent agreed low-carb diets are a fast way to lose weight, but more than one-third said it was a bad approach. More than half of those surveyed said they were unsure of low-carb claims.
Eighty-nine per cent said they understood the risks of fad dieting while 73 per cent were aware of the negative impact of yo-yo dieting.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1097530543616_21/?hub=Health