In 1998 the Atkins Diet swept to best-selling diet status as millions opted for Dr. Atkins' low-carbohydrate, high-protein approach to weight-loss.
The Basis
Dr. Robert C. Atkins claimed that a reduction in carbohydrate intake coupled with an increase in protein consumption would yield a faster and larger degree of weight loss than could be achieved on traditional low-calorie diets.
Bad Carbs According to Atkins
Dr. Atkins believed that refined and complex carbohydrates, including high-fructose corn syrup and flour, and tran -fats, such as partially hydrogenated oils, were at the root of the obesity epidemic because, according to Atkins, these ingredients trigger insulin production in humans. Insulin, in turn, helps the body store its caloric intake as fat.
Expert Insight
The United States Department of Agriculture found in a study comparing the weight loss efficacy of the Atkins Diet to that of traditional low-calorie diets, that dieters on the Atkins Diet lost more than twice as much weight as traditional dieters over the first six months of the program. After one year, however, those on the Atkins Diet had regained weight, resulting in similar weight loss results between the two diets.
Health Considerations
The study described by the USDA also reported that those on the Atkins Diet during the study experienced increases in their cholesterol levels of approximately 3 percent.
Insulin
Despite Atkins' assertion that a diet low in carbohydrates would reduce the production of insulin, the UDSA study found that the levels of insulin in dieters on the Atkins Diet is not significantly reduced compared to the insulin levels of traditional dieters.
The Fate of Dr. Atkins
Dr. Atkins died in 2003 from a head injury. His medical report, according to the New York Times, detailed several health problems including a history of heart attack, congestive heart failure and obesity.
Tags: Atkins Diet, weight loss, Atkins Atkins, dieters Atkins, dieters Atkins Diet, low-calorie diets