Carbs conquer Atkins: Diet experts declare craze over

[jun keater]

Carbs conquer Atkins: Diet experts declare craze over

By sticking to the low-carb, high-protein Atkins diet, University of Missouri student Dave Champlin lost about 45 pounds this year.

Yet, dispite being pleased with the results, he went off the diet and has gained back some of the weight.

"Eating the same thing over and over," he said. "It was monotonous."
Champlin, 23, exemplifies why many diet and food industry experts are declaring the low-carb fad over.

A Study by NPD Group, an independant marketing information company, found the percentage of American adults on any low-carb diet in 2004 peaked at 9.1% in February and dropped to 4.9% by early November.

Experts said the decline in low-carb popularity was entirely predictable, much like past crazes such as low-fat or liquid diets.

"It was overhyped from the beginning, a craze that was never a craze," said Bob Goldin, executive vice president of Technomic Inc., a food industry research firm.

"It was a little bubble that had zero staying power. We've been there, done that, many, many times."

[K Walt]

Well, good. Now that the low-carb is over, maybe they'll stop sniping and taking potshots at it.

Time for the next 'craze'.

Maybe it will be the 'portion control' craze "People everywhere are measuring, trimming, and tracking portion sizes on their Palm Pilots. Supermarkets tout new 'small-portion' products. . . magazines tout seven ways to get your portions smaller than ever. . ."

Or maybe the 'moderation' craze. "It's sweeping the nation, everyone is suddenly going 'ga-ga' for moderation. . .amid promises of trimmer waistlines, lower cholesterol, more energy. New clubs are springing up left and right where members swap moderation recipes, moderation eating tip, and moderate exercise routines. . .On the grocery shelf_- "New! Ideal for moderate diets"

[kyrasdad]

What's absurd to see is that they put it in the same category as other "crazes" like liquid diets (or even low fat). I think what we'll see is the availability of low carb items decline some. But they will be around.

The "craze" part is mostly tied to the business of selling to low carbers. Fewer people are doing the diet, but I bet you that those who have quit weren't really on it anyway.

-Scott (who's gained 2 pounds this month and is fighting hard to shed those)

[EXLarge]

Before taking a good long look at what I needed to do, I was part of the mass that fueled the diet "Craze". It's pretty sad when I look back at it, but I don't think I was the exception, but more the norm. The low fat craze, I'd eat everything I had always eaten, but I would buy the items that sad low fat, just to make myself think I was eating right. Endlessly disappointed that I never lost any weight even though I was buying all that over priced "Labeled" food. I can't tell you how much I have spent over the years on "specialty" food because it was part of the latest research on why we are all overweight.

This is the mentallity that causes the "Craze" in america. From my understanding Atkins has been around for a long time. It's just that some marketing genius decided it was time to start promoting it once again, because the wind was taken out of the sail of the low fat campaigns. How else do you revitalize a multi billion dollar industry. I've been duped time and time again. It wasn't until I took it seriously, that I decided to actually start working the plan.

Just because the "craze" is gone, does not mean that the concept is not valid. Granted we might not see as many LC products on the shelf, but I think everyone on this sight, realizes that its not the products that have created the success. It's the knowledge and the understanding that it's eating healthy, unprocessed foods that help us gain control over our bodies once again.

I've made a promise to myself, just because the "craze" is over, by no means is my goal or journey. This is the only plan I have every had any success with, and I'm here to stay. So let the marketers go off and create the next money making campaign, I'll stick with what works.

[Jems]

Low carbing seems a very natural way of eating to me... our stone age ancestors didn't have the grains, chocolate etc etc that we all eat nowadays, they lived on meats, roots. leaves, berries etc and seemed to do ok!!

[dannysk]

A) University students don't cook. I never eat the same thing over and over again. I wonder how many students complain about pizza and beer over and over again.
B) The fact that more than half American adults are still on a low carb diet in Nov - from Feb is fantastic. How many American adults that were on a diet in post holidays Feb were still dieting in Nov.

danny