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{{short description|Low-carbohydrate fad diet devised by Robert Atkins}}
The '''Atkins Nutritional Approach''', popularly known as the '''Atkins Diet''' or just '''Atkins''', is a [[fashion|trendy]] but [[controversy|controversial]] high-protein, high-fat, low-carbohydrate [[dieting|diet]] popularized by Dr. [[Robert Atkins (nutritionist)|Robert Atkins]] (1930-2003) in a series of books, starting with ''Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution''.
[[File:Atkins Diet Revolution.png|thumb|''Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution'', first published in 1972<ref name=slg/>]]


The '''Atkins diet''' is a [[Low-carbohydrate diet|low-carbohydrate]] [[fad diet]] devised by [[Robert Atkins (physician)|Robert Atkins]] in the 1970s, marketed with claims that carbohydrate restriction is crucial to weight loss and that the diet offered "a high calorie way to stay thin forever".<ref name=nonsense/><ref name=slg/>
Atkins recommends restriction of the intake of [[carbohydrate]]s in order to switch the body [[metabolism]] from using [[glucose]] as the fuel to burning [[fat]] (both dietary and stored fat). This process of ''[[lipolysis]]'' begins when the body enters the state of ''[[ketosis]]'' as a consequence of running out of carbohydrates to burn.


The diet became popular in the early 2000s, with Atkins' book becoming one of the top 50 best-selling books in history, and as many as 1 in 11 [[North America]]n adults claiming to be following it. Atkins died in 2003 and in 2005 [[Atkins Nutritionals|Atkins Nutritionals, Inc.]] filed for bankruptcy following substantial financial losses.
For the first two weeks of the Atkins diet plan (called ''Induction''), carbohydrate intake is limited to 20 grams a day, meaning that [[protein]] and fat will, by necessity, form the bulk of the diet. In order to avoid health problems caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies during this period, vitamin and mineral supplements form an essential part of this phase of the diet.


There is no strong evidence of the diet's effectiveness in achieving durable weight loss; it is unbalanced as it promotes unlimited consumption of [[Protein (nutrient)|protein]] and [[saturated fat]], and it may increase the risk of [[heart disease]].<ref name="Longe 2008">Longe, Jacqueline L. (2008). ''The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition''. The Gale Group. pp. 84-87. {{ISBN|978-1-4144-2991-5}}</ref><ref name="Quackwatch">[https://quackwatch.org/11ind/atkinssuit/ "Alleged Atkins Diet Victim Files Suit"]. Quackwatch. Retrieved October 14, 2020.</ref><ref name=Gud2015/><ref name=fad/>
After the initial two week period, carbohydrate intake is gradually increased until it reaches a level at which the dieter loses weight slowly and can reduce or eliminate the supplements. Once the target weight is reached, carbohydrate levels are again gradually increased until the dieter's weight becomes stable. Each of these carbohydrate levels varies from person to person. Dr. Atkins argues that many eating disorders are the result of ''hyperinsulinism'', or excessive secretion of [[insulin]], which, according to Atkins, causes food cravings and unstable [[blood sugar]] levels. Atkins claims that his diet stabilizes insulin and blood sugar levels, eliminating cravings and often reducing appetite.


==Effectiveness and risks==
==Views in favor of the diet==
{{Further|Low-carbohydrate diet}}
Proponents of the diet mention that low-carbohydrate diets have been the subject of heated debate in medical circles for three decades [http://www.lowcarb.ca/], but are still "[[damned knowledge]]", so much so that until recently no serious research has been done on Atkins or other low carbohydrate diets. They mention that a few small research projects, as well as a great deal of anecdotal evidence, have shown such diets to help participants lose weight.
There is weak evidence that the Atkins diet is more effective than behavioral counseling for weight loss at 6-12 months.<ref name=Gud2015/> The Atkins diet led to 0.1% to 2.9% more weight loss at one year compared to control groups which received behavioural counselling for weight loss.<ref name=Gud2015/> As with other commercial weight loss programs, the effect size is smaller over longer periods.<ref name=Gud2015>{{cite journal|last1=Gudzune|first1=KA|last2=Doshi|first2=RS|last3=Mehta|first3=AK|last4=Chaudhry|first4=ZW|last5=Jacobs|first5=DK|last6=Vakil|first6=RM|last7=Lee|first7=CJ|last8=Bleich|first8=SN|last9=Clark|first9=JM|title=Efficacy of commercial weight-loss programs: an updated systematic review.|journal=Annals of Internal Medicine|date=7 April 2015|volume=162|issue=7|pages=501–12|pmid=25844997|doi=10.7326/M14-2238|pmc=4446719|quote=Atkins resulted in 0.1% to 2.9% greater weight loss at 12 months than counseling. }}</ref><ref name=Harper>{{cite journal| author = Harper, A | journal = Obesity Reviews| volume = 5| issue = 2| pages = 93–94| year = 2004| doi = 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2004.00137.x| pmid = 15086862| last2 = Astrup| first2 = A| title=Can we advise our obese patients to follow the Atkins diet?| s2cid = 40176596|quote=Despite the popularity and apparent success of the Atkins diet, documented scientific evidence in support of its use unfortunately lags behind. |type=editorial| doi-access = free}}</ref> Low-carb dieters' initial advantage in weight loss is likely a result of increased water loss, and that after the initial period, low-carbohydrate diets produce similar fat loss to other diets with similar caloric intake.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/oby.2001.113 |pmid=11374180 |title=Executive Summary |journal=Obesity Research |volume=9 |pages=1S–40S |year=2001 |last1=Freedman |first1=Marjorie R |last2=King |first2=Janet |last3=Kennedy |first3=Eileen |doi-access=free }}</ref>


Atkins did not publish any clinical data on his patients and has thus been criticized for making unsupported statements about health.<ref>{{cite journal|author=[[William Harding le Riche|Riche, William Harding le]]|year=1981|title= Foods, fads and fallacies|journal=Modern Medicine|url=https://journals.co.za/doi/epdf/10.10520/AJA02599333_832|volume=6|issue=10|pages=5–15|hdl=10520/AJA02599333_832 }}</ref> Because of its high saturated fat content the Atkins diet may increase the risk of [[heart disease]].<ref name="Longe 2008"/><ref name=fad>{{cite book |last1=Alters|first1=Sandra|last2=Schiff|first2=Wendy|title=Essential Concepts for Healthy Living. Chapter 10: Body Weight and Its Management|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VegUiVbruBMC&pg=PA327 |date=22 February 2012 |publisher=Jones & Bartlett Publishers |isbn=978-1-4496-3062-1 |page=327 |edition=Sixth}}</ref> A medical report issued by the New York medical examiner's office a year after the author's death showed that he had a history of heart attack, [[Heart failure|congestive heart failure]] and [[hypertension]].<ref name="wsj-ra">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB107637899384525268 |title=Report Details Dr. Atkins's Health Problems |access-date=January 1, 2015 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal}}</ref> The Atkins diet has been criticized by the [[American Medical Association]], [[American Dietetic Association]] and the [[American Heart Association]] as nutritionally unbalanced.<ref name=slg/><ref name="AHA Science Advisory">{{cite journal|vauthors= St Jeor ST, Howard BV, Prewitt TE, Bovee V, Bazzarre T, Eckel RH|title= Dietary protein and weight reduction: a statement for healthcare professionals from the Nutrition Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism of the American Heart Association|journal= Circulation|volume= 104|issue= 15|pages= 1869–74|date= October 2001|pmid= 11591629|doi= 10.1161/hc4001.096152|doi-access=free}}</ref> In 2000, [[Journal of the American College of Nurtrition|Journal of the American College of Nutrition]] conducted a study which determined that “the very high fats of Atkins diet: 60%–68%, around 26% of which are saturates, through shifting the metabolic pathway for energy production, deliver a strong boost to free radical production, thereby increasing oxidative stress on different organs”. <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=J. W. |last2=Konz |first2=E. C. |last3=Jenkins |first3=D. J. |date=October 2000 |title=Health advantages and disadvantages of weight-reducing diets: a computer analysis and critical review |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11022871/ |journal=Journal of the American College of Nutrition |volume=19 |issue=5 |pages=578–590 |doi=10.1080/07315724.2000.10718955 |issn=0731-5724 |pmid=11022871|s2cid=25815308 }}</ref>
A research study carried out by the Weight and Eating Disorders Program at the [[University of Pennsylvania]], reported in May 2003 that the Atkins diet raised levels of [[High density lipoprotein|HDL]] (or "good") [[cholesterol]] by an average of 11% and reduced the amount of [[triglyceride]]s in the bloodstream by 17%. In the study, conventional dieters' HDL cholesterol raised by only 1.6% while their triglyceride levels did not improve significantly. Weight loss was also statistically greater in the Atkins dieters after three and six months compared with the conventional dieters (although this did not remain statistically significant after a year). The study followed the diets of 63 obese men and women. (See ''New Scientist'', May 21 2003) Two other large-scale studies are planned, one funded by Atkins's nonprofit foundation.


=== Modified Atkins and epilepsy ===
There are reports indicating that studies have shown benefits for heartstroke as well as diabetic patients, and that many experts are already discussing a low carb nutrition for diabetic patients who may then be able to live their lives without any insulin. Like any diet, the health effects will depend a great deal on the food choices one makes to meet the macronutrient requirements specified by the diet.
{{further|Ketogenic diet#Modified Atkins}}
[[Ketogenic diet]]s are used to treat epilepsy in children, where there is some evidence it has a positive effect in reducing seizures.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/management-infantile-epilepsy/research |title=Management of Infantile Epilepsies |last1=Treadwell |first1=Jonathan R. |last2=Wu |first2=Mingche |date=2022-10-25 |publisher=Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) |doi=10.23970/ahrqepccer252 |last3=Tsou |first3=Amy Y.}}</ref> There is some evidence that adults too may experience seizure reduction derived from therapeutic ketogenic diets, and that a less strict regimen, such as a modified Atkins diet, is similarly effective.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Freeman|first1=JM|last2=Kossoff|first2=EH|last3=Hartman|first3=AL|s2cid=26629499|title=The ketogenic diet: one decade later.|journal=Pediatrics|date=March 2007|volume=119|issue=3|pages=535–43|pmid=17332207|doi=10.1542/peds.2006-2447}}</ref>


==Description==
==Views critical of the diet==
[[File:Eggs and bacon.jpg|thumb|Bacon and eggs, foods compatible with the Atkins diet]]
The Atkins diet has generally been considered by most medical and nutritional experts to be unsound or even [[quackery]]. Opponents of the diet mention that the initial weight loss upon starting on this diet is a phenomenom common with most diets, and is due to reduction in stored glycogen and related water in muscles, not fat loss. They claim that no evidence has surfaced that any diet will cause weight loss unless it reduces calories below the maintenance level.


The Atkins diet has been described as a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, high-protein [[fad diet]].<ref name=slg>{{cite encyclopedia|vauthors=Gardiner S, Gilman SL|editor=Gilman SL|encyclopedia=Diets and Dieting: A Cultural Encyclopedia|title=Atkins, Robert, MD (1930-2003) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWmRAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA12|year=2008|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-87068-3|page=12}}</ref> It promotes the consumption of [[meat]], [[cheese]], [[Egg as food|eggs]] and other high-fat foods such as [[butter]], [[mayonnaise]] and [[sour cream]] in unlimited amounts whilst [[bread]], [[cereal]], [[pasta]] and other carbohydrates are forbidden.<ref name=slg/><ref name="Longe 2008"/> Atkins' book ''New Diet Revolution'' has sold 12 million copies. It has been described as "the bestselling fad-diet book ever written."<ref name=slg/>
Dr. Robert Eckel of the [[American Heart Association]] says that high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets put people at risk for heart disease. [http://www.lowcarb.ca/articlesb/article332.html]


Preferred foods in all categories are whole, unprocessed foods with a low [[glycemic index]], although restrictions for low glycemic carbohydrates (black rice, vegetables, etc.) are the same as those for high glycemic carbohydrates (sugar, white bread). Due to concerns from medical experts about the high-fat content of the diet, the Atkins Nutritionals company that market foods for the diet, recommends that no more than 20% of calories eaten while on the diet come from [[saturated fat]].<ref name="eat less fat">{{cite news |publisher=BBC |date=January 19, 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3408931.stm |title=Atkins diet boss: 'Eat less fat' |work=BBC News |access-date=September 12, 2007 }}</ref>
Another argument is that many countries whose traditional diets are high in carbohydrates and low in fat (for example, [[Japan]]) have significantly low rates of obesity. This seems to directly contradict Atkins' claims.


==Proposed mechanism==
===Reference===
The diet was inspired by a low-carbohydrate approach published by Alfred W. Pennington, based on research Pennington did during World War II at DuPont.<ref name=NYTobit>{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Douglas|title=Dr. Robert C. Atkins, Author of Controversial but Best-Selling Diet Books, Is Dead at 72|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/18/nyregion/dr-robert-c-atkins-author-controversial-but-best-selling-diet-books-dead-72.html|work=The New York Times|date=April 18, 2003}}</ref> The Atkins diet is promoted with claims that carbohydrate restriction is the "key" to weight loss.<ref name=nonsense>{{cite journal |vauthors=Katz DL |title=Pandemic obesity and the contagion of nutritional nonsense |journal=Public Health Rev |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=33–44 |year=2003 |pmid=14656042 }}</ref>
* New England Journal of Medicine: (vol 348, p 2082)


In his early books such as ''Dr Atkins' New Diet Revolution'', Atkins made the controversial argument that the low-carbohydrate diet produces a [[metabolic advantage]] because "burning fat takes more calories so you expend more calories"; the Atkins diet was claimed to be "a high calorie way to stay thin forever".<ref name=hall/><ref name = 'ANDR'>{{cite book | last = Atkins | first = Robert | author-link = Robert Atkins (nutritionist) | title = Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition | publisher = .Evans | date = 2003-09-25 | url = https://archive.org/details/dratkinsnewdiet000atki | isbn = 978-1-59077-002-3 | url-access = registration }}</ref> He cited one study in which he estimated this advantage to be 950 calories (4.0 MJ) per day. A review study published in ''Lancet''<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(04)16986-9 |pmid=15351198 |title=Atkins and other low-carbohydrate diets: Hoax or an effective tool for weight loss? |journal=The Lancet |volume=364 |issue=9437 |pages=897–9 |year=2004 |last1=Astrup |first1=Arne |last2=Larsen |first2=Thomas Meinert |last3=Harper |first3=Angela |s2cid=24756993 }}</ref> concluded that there was no such metabolic advantage and dieters were simply eating fewer calories. Astrup stated, "The monotony and simplicity of the diet could inhibit appetite and food intake." [[David L. Katz]] has characterized Atkins' claim as nonsense.<ref name=nonsense/> The idea of "metabolic advantage" of low-carbohydrate dieting has been [[Scientific method|falsified by experiment]] in a study of people following restricted-carbohydrate dieting.<ref name=hall>{{cite journal| author=Hall KD| title=A review of the carbohydrate-insulin model of obesity. | journal=Eur J Clin Nutr | year= 2017 | volume= 71 | issue= 3 | pages= 323–326 | pmid=28074888 | doi=10.1038/ejcn.2016.260 | s2cid=54484172 |type=Review }} </ref>
'''See:''' [[Diet]], [[Dieting]], [[List of diets]]


==Society and culture==
⚫
===External links===
===Commercialization===
* [http://atkinscenter.com/help/faqs/index.html FAQs] of the [http://atkinscenter.com/index.html Atkins Center]
[[Atkins Nutritionals]] was founded in 1989 by Atkins to promote the sale of Atkins-branded products. Following his death, waning popularity of the diet and a reduction in demand for Atkins products, Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 31, 2005 citing losses of $340 million.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8779500 Atkins Nutritionals files for bankruptcy – AP 1 August 2005].</ref> It was subsequently purchased by North Castle Partners in 2007 and switched its emphasis to low-carb snacks.<ref name=bankruptcy2>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4733893.stm "Atkins firm seeks financial help"]. ''BBC News''. August 1, 2005.</ref> In 2010, the company was acquired by [[Roark Capital Group]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bills|first1=Steve|title=Atkins delivers $118 mln dividend to Roark Capital|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/buyouts-atkins/buyouts-atkins-delivers-118-mln-dividend-to-roark-capital-idUSL1N0CCCEB20130320|work=Reuters|date=20 March 2013}}</ref> In 2017, Roark Capital Group announced that it would merge Atkins Nutritionals with Conyers Park Acquisition Corp to form a public company called Simply Good Foods.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2017/04/11/atlantas-roark-capital-in-deal-to-form-the-simply.html|title=Atlanta's Roark Capital in deal to form The Simply Good Foods Company|last=Allison|first=David|date=11 April 2017|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref>
*[http://www.diabetes-normalsugars.com/articles/fatlie.shtml New York Times Magazine article ''What if It's All Been a Big Fat Lie?]

*[http://www.lowcarbforum.de/ Low Carb Forum] (in German)
===History===
*[http://www.thecolumn.org/atkins-diet.asp Atkins Diet Information]

*[http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/diets/atkins_diet/ Atkins Diet debate]
Atkins's ideas were first published in his 1972 book ''Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution: The High Calorie Way to Stay Thin Forever''.<ref name=slg/>

The diet gained widespread popularity in 2003 and 2004. At the height of its popularity one in eleven [[North America]]n adults claimed to be on a low-carb diet such as Atkins.<ref name="Wendy Kaufman">{{cite news| last= Kaufman| first= Wendy| url= https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4783324| title= Atkins Bankruptcy a Boon for Pasta Makers| publisher= [[NPR]]| date= August 3, 2005}}</ref> This large following was blamed for large declines in the sales of carbohydrate-heavy foods like [[pasta]] and [[rice]]: sales were down 8.2 and 4.6 percent, respectively, in 2003. The diet's success was even blamed for a decline in [[Krispy Kreme]] sales.<ref name="Larry Schooler">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1968804|title=Low-Carb Diets Trim Krispy Kreme's Profit Line|last=Schooler|first=Larry|date=June 22, 2004|publisher=[[NPR]]|access-date=12 March 2017}}</ref> Trying to capitalize on the "low-carb craze", many companies released special product lines that were low in carbohydrates.

Around that time, the percentage of American adults on the diet declined to two percent and sales of Atkins brand products fell steeply in the second half of 2004.<ref name=bankruptcy>{{cite news|last=Howard|first=Theresa|title=Atkins Nutritionals files for bankruptcy protection|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2005-08-01-atkins_x.htm?POE=MONISVA|access-date=11 November 2012|newspaper=USA Today|date=1 August 2005}}</ref>

A 2021 [[review article]] observed that, 50 years after it was first mooted, the Atkins diet was "coming back on the quackery scene again".<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Schutz Y, Montani JP, Dulloo AG |title=Low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets in body weight control: A recurrent plaguing issue of fad diets? |journal=Obes Rev |volume=22 |issue= Suppl 2|pages=e13195 |date=March 2021 |pmid=33471427 |doi=10.1111/obr.13195 |type=Review|doi-access=free }}</ref>

===Cost===
An analysis conducted by ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine found that the sample menu from the Atkins diet was one of the top five most expensive to eat, of the ten plans Forbes analyzed. This was due to the inclusion of recipes with some high-cost ingredients such as lobster tails which were put in the book to demonstrate the variety of foods which could be consumed on the diet. The analysis showed the median average cost of the ten diets was approximately 50% higher, and Atkins 80% higher, than the American national average. The Atkins diet was less expensive than the [[Jenny Craig]] diet and more expensive than [[Weight Watchers (diet)|Weight Watchers]].<ref>[https://forbes.com/2005/04/06/cx_lrlh_0406costlycalories.html Costly Calories] Forbes.com</ref>

==Failed lawsuit==

In 2004, Jody Gorran sued the estate of Robert Atkins and his company seeking $28,000 in damages.<ref name="The New York Times"> [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/27/us/dieter-sues-atkins-estate-and-company.html "Dieter Sues Atkins Estate and Company"]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved October 14, 2020.</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3753581.stm "Atkins dieter sues after heart op"]. BBC News. Retrieved October 14, 2020.</ref> Gorran stated that he had followed the Atkins diet for two years and it raised his [[Low-density lipoprotein|LDL-cholesterol]] so much that a major artery became clogged and he required an [[angioplasty]] and [[stent]] insertion to open it.<ref name="Quackwatch"/><ref name="The New York Times"/> On the Atkins diet he was eating large amounts of cheese which is high in saturated fat. Gorran commented that "the issue with the Atkins Diet was not so much that my cholesterol went up but it's the fact that the Atkins empire constantly stated that in the absence of refined carbohydrates, eating a great deal of saturated fat would not be a problem and that was a lie."<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/diet.fitness/05/27/gorran/index.html "Gorran: Atkins suit a 'quest for knowledge'"]{{dead link|date=October 2024}}. CNN.com. Retrieved October 14, 2020.</ref> The lawsuit was dismissed in 2007 as the Atkins diet consists of only "advice and ideas" that are protected by the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]].<ref>[https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-atkins-lawsuit-s/judge-tosses-suit-of-florida-man-on-atkins-diet-idUSN1124109820061212 "Judge tosses suit of Florida man on Atkins diet"]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. Reuters. Retrieved October 14, 2020.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Dukan Diet]]
* [[Ketogenic diet]]
* [[KE Diet]]
* [[List of diets]]
* [[Online weight loss plans]]
* [[Protein poisoning]]
* [[PSMF diet]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

⚫
== External links ==
{{Cookbook|Atkins Diet Cooking}}
* [http://www.atkins.com Official Atkins corporate site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219082414/http://www.atkins.com/ |date=2014-12-19 }}

{{Fad diets}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkins Diet}}
[[Category:Brand name diet products]]
[[Category:Fad diets]]
[[Category:Low-carbohydrate diets]]
[[Category:American inventions]]

Latest revision as of 18:46, 27 October 2024

Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution, first published in 1972[1]

The Atkins diet is a low-carbohydrate fad diet devised by Robert Atkins in the 1970s, marketed with claims that carbohydrate restriction is crucial to weight loss and that the diet offered "a high calorie way to stay thin forever".[2][1]

The diet became popular in the early 2000s, with Atkins' book becoming one of the top 50 best-selling books in history, and as many as 1 in 11 North American adults claiming to be following it. Atkins died in 2003 and in 2005 Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. filed for bankruptcy following substantial financial losses.

There is no strong evidence of the diet's effectiveness in achieving durable weight loss; it is unbalanced as it promotes unlimited consumption of protein and saturated fat, and it may increase the risk of heart disease.[3][4][5][6]

Effectiveness and risks

[edit]
Further information: Low-carbohydrate diet

There is weak evidence that the Atkins diet is more effective than behavioral counseling for weight loss at 6-12 months.[5] The Atkins diet led to 0.1% to 2.9% more weight loss at one year compared to control groups which received behavioural counselling for weight loss.[5] As with other commercial weight loss programs, the effect size is smaller over longer periods.[5][7] Low-carb dieters' initial advantage in weight loss is likely a result of increased water loss, and that after the initial period, low-carbohydrate diets produce similar fat loss to other diets with similar caloric intake.[8]

Atkins did not publish any clinical data on his patients and has thus been criticized for making unsupported statements about health.[9] Because of its high saturated fat content the Atkins diet may increase the risk of heart disease.[3][6] A medical report issued by the New York medical examiner's office a year after the author's death showed that he had a history of heart attack, congestive heart failure and hypertension.[10] The Atkins diet has been criticized by the American Medical Association, American Dietetic Association and the American Heart Association as nutritionally unbalanced.[1][11] In 2000, Journal of the American College of Nutrition conducted a study which determined that “the very high fats of Atkins diet: 60%–68%, around 26% of which are saturates, through shifting the metabolic pathway for energy production, deliver a strong boost to free radical production, thereby increasing oxidative stress on different organs”. [12]

Modified Atkins and epilepsy

[edit]
Further information: Ketogenic diet § Modified Atkins

Ketogenic diets are used to treat epilepsy in children, where there is some evidence it has a positive effect in reducing seizures.[13] There is some evidence that adults too may experience seizure reduction derived from therapeutic ketogenic diets, and that a less strict regimen, such as a modified Atkins diet, is similarly effective.[14]

Description

[edit]
Bacon and eggs, foods compatible with the Atkins diet

The Atkins diet has been described as a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, high-protein fad diet.[1] It promotes the consumption of meat, cheese, eggs and other high-fat foods such as butter, mayonnaise and sour cream in unlimited amounts whilst bread, cereal, pasta and other carbohydrates are forbidden.[1][3] Atkins' book New Diet Revolution has sold 12 million copies. It has been described as "the bestselling fad-diet book ever written."[1]

Preferred foods in all categories are whole, unprocessed foods with a low glycemic index, although restrictions for low glycemic carbohydrates (black rice, vegetables, etc.) are the same as those for high glycemic carbohydrates (sugar, white bread). Due to concerns from medical experts about the high-fat content of the diet, the Atkins Nutritionals company that market foods for the diet, recommends that no more than 20% of calories eaten while on the diet come from saturated fat.[15]

Proposed mechanism

[edit]

The diet was inspired by a low-carbohydrate approach published by Alfred W. Pennington, based on research Pennington did during World War II at DuPont.[16] The Atkins diet is promoted with claims that carbohydrate restriction is the "key" to weight loss.[2]

In his early books such as Dr Atkins' New Diet Revolution, Atkins made the controversial argument that the low-carbohydrate diet produces a metabolic advantage because "burning fat takes more calories so you expend more calories"; the Atkins diet was claimed to be "a high calorie way to stay thin forever".[17][18] He cited one study in which he estimated this advantage to be 950 calories (4.0 MJ) per day. A review study published in Lancet[19] concluded that there was no such metabolic advantage and dieters were simply eating fewer calories. Astrup stated, "The monotony and simplicity of the diet could inhibit appetite and food intake." David L. Katz has characterized Atkins' claim as nonsense.[2] The idea of "metabolic advantage" of low-carbohydrate dieting has been falsified by experiment in a study of people following restricted-carbohydrate dieting.[17]

Society and culture

[edit]

Commercialization

[edit]

Atkins Nutritionals was founded in 1989 by Atkins to promote the sale of Atkins-branded products. Following his death, waning popularity of the diet and a reduction in demand for Atkins products, Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 31, 2005 citing losses of $340 million.[20] It was subsequently purchased by North Castle Partners in 2007 and switched its emphasis to low-carb snacks.[21] In 2010, the company was acquired by Roark Capital Group.[22] In 2017, Roark Capital Group announced that it would merge Atkins Nutritionals with Conyers Park Acquisition Corp to form a public company called Simply Good Foods.[23]

History

[edit]

Atkins's ideas were first published in his 1972 book Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution: The High Calorie Way to Stay Thin Forever.[1]

The diet gained widespread popularity in 2003 and 2004. At the height of its popularity one in eleven North American adults claimed to be on a low-carb diet such as Atkins.[24] This large following was blamed for large declines in the sales of carbohydrate-heavy foods like pasta and rice: sales were down 8.2 and 4.6 percent, respectively, in 2003. The diet's success was even blamed for a decline in Krispy Kreme sales.[25] Trying to capitalize on the "low-carb craze", many companies released special product lines that were low in carbohydrates.

Around that time, the percentage of American adults on the diet declined to two percent and sales of Atkins brand products fell steeply in the second half of 2004.[26]

A 2021 review article observed that, 50 years after it was first mooted, the Atkins diet was "coming back on the quackery scene again".[27]

Cost

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An analysis conducted by Forbes magazine found that the sample menu from the Atkins diet was one of the top five most expensive to eat, of the ten plans Forbes analyzed. This was due to the inclusion of recipes with some high-cost ingredients such as lobster tails which were put in the book to demonstrate the variety of foods which could be consumed on the diet. The analysis showed the median average cost of the ten diets was approximately 50% higher, and Atkins 80% higher, than the American national average. The Atkins diet was less expensive than the Jenny Craig diet and more expensive than Weight Watchers.[28]

Failed lawsuit

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In 2004, Jody Gorran sued the estate of Robert Atkins and his company seeking $28,000 in damages.[29][30] Gorran stated that he had followed the Atkins diet for two years and it raised his LDL-cholesterol so much that a major artery became clogged and he required an angioplasty and stent insertion to open it.[4][29] On the Atkins diet he was eating large amounts of cheese which is high in saturated fat. Gorran commented that "the issue with the Atkins Diet was not so much that my cholesterol went up but it's the fact that the Atkins empire constantly stated that in the absence of refined carbohydrates, eating a great deal of saturated fat would not be a problem and that was a lie."[31] The lawsuit was dismissed in 2007 as the Atkins diet consists of only "advice and ideas" that are protected by the First Amendment.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Gardiner S, Gilman SL (2008). "Atkins, Robert, MD (1930-2003)". In Gilman SL (ed.). Diets and Dieting: A Cultural Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-135-87068-3.
  2. ^ a b c Katz DL (2003). "Pandemic obesity and the contagion of nutritional nonsense". Public Health Rev. 31 (1): 33–44. PMID 14656042.
  3. ^ a b c Longe, Jacqueline L. (2008). The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition. The Gale Group. pp. 84-87. ISBN 978-1-4144-2991-5
  4. ^ a b "Alleged Atkins Diet Victim Files Suit". Quackwatch. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d Gudzune, KA; Doshi, RS; Mehta, AK; Chaudhry, ZW; Jacobs, DK; Vakil, RM; Lee, CJ; Bleich, SN; Clark, JM (7 April 2015). "Efficacy of commercial weight-loss programs: an updated systematic review". Annals of Internal Medicine. 162 (7): 501–12. doi:10.7326/M14-2238. PMC 4446719. PMID 25844997. Atkins resulted in 0.1% to 2.9% greater weight loss at 12 months than counseling.
  6. ^ a b Alters, Sandra; Schiff, Wendy (22 February 2012). Essential Concepts for Healthy Living. Chapter 10: Body Weight and Its Management (Sixth ed.). Jones & Bartlett Publishers. p. 327. ISBN 978-1-4496-3062-1.
  7. ^ Harper, A; Astrup, A (2004). "Can we advise our obese patients to follow the Atkins diet?". Obesity Reviews (editorial). 5 (2): 93–94. doi:10.1111/j.1467-789X.2004.00137.x. PMID 15086862. S2CID 40176596. Despite the popularity and apparent success of the Atkins diet, documented scientific evidence in support of its use unfortunately lags behind.
  8. ^ Freedman, Marjorie R; King, Janet; Kennedy, Eileen (2001). "Executive Summary". Obesity Research. 9: 1S–40S. doi:10.1038/oby.2001.113. PMID 11374180.
  9. ^ Riche, William Harding le (1981). "Foods, fads and fallacies". Modern Medicine. 6 (10): 5–15. hdl:10520/AJA02599333_832.
  10. ^ "Report Details Dr. Atkins's Health Problems". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  11. ^ St Jeor ST, Howard BV, Prewitt TE, Bovee V, Bazzarre T, Eckel RH (October 2001). "Dietary protein and weight reduction: a statement for healthcare professionals from the Nutrition Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism of the American Heart Association". Circulation. 104 (15): 1869–74. doi:10.1161/hc4001.096152. PMID 11591629.
  12. ^ Anderson, J. W.; Konz, E. C.; Jenkins, D. J. (October 2000). "Health advantages and disadvantages of weight-reducing diets: a computer analysis and critical review". Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 19 (5): 578–590. doi:10.1080/07315724.2000.10718955. ISSN 0731-5724. PMID 11022871. S2CID 25815308.
  13. ^ Treadwell, Jonathan R.; Wu, Mingche; Tsou, Amy Y. (2022-10-25). Management of Infantile Epilepsies (Report). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). doi:10.23970/ahrqepccer252.
  14. ^ Freeman, JM; Kossoff, EH; Hartman, AL (March 2007). "The ketogenic diet: one decade later". Pediatrics. 119 (3): 535–43. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-2447. PMID 17332207. S2CID 26629499.
  15. ^ "Atkins diet boss: 'Eat less fat'". BBC News. BBC. January 19, 2004. Retrieved September 12, 2007.
  16. ^ Martin, Douglas (April 18, 2003). "Dr. Robert C. Atkins, Author of Controversial but Best-Selling Diet Books, Is Dead at 72". The New York Times.
  17. ^ a b Hall KD (2017). "A review of the carbohydrate-insulin model of obesity". Eur J Clin Nutr (Review). 71 (3): 323–326. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2016.260. PMID 28074888. S2CID 54484172.
  18. ^ Atkins, Robert (2003-09-25). Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition. .Evans. ISBN 978-1-59077-002-3.
  19. ^ Astrup, Arne; Larsen, Thomas Meinert; Harper, Angela (2004). "Atkins and other low-carbohydrate diets: Hoax or an effective tool for weight loss?". The Lancet. 364 (9437): 897–9. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)16986-9. PMID 15351198. S2CID 24756993.
  20. ^ Atkins Nutritionals files for bankruptcy – AP 1 August 2005.
  21. ^ "Atkins firm seeks financial help". BBC News. August 1, 2005.
  22. ^ Bills, Steve (20 March 2013). "Atkins delivers $118 mln dividend to Roark Capital". Reuters.
  23. ^ Allison, David (11 April 2017). "Atlanta's Roark Capital in deal to form The Simply Good Foods Company". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  24. ^ Kaufman, Wendy (August 3, 2005). "Atkins Bankruptcy a Boon for Pasta Makers". NPR.
  25. ^ Schooler, Larry (June 22, 2004). "Low-Carb Diets Trim Krispy Kreme's Profit Line". NPR. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  26. ^ Howard, Theresa (1 August 2005). "Atkins Nutritionals files for bankruptcy protection". USA Today. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  27. ^ Schutz Y, Montani JP, Dulloo AG (March 2021). "Low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets in body weight control: A recurrent plaguing issue of fad diets?". Obes Rev (Review). 22 (Suppl 2): e13195. doi:10.1111/obr.13195. PMID 33471427.
  28. ^ Costly Calories Forbes.com
  29. ^ a b "Dieter Sues Atkins Estate and Company". The New York Times. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  30. ^ "Atkins dieter sues after heart op". BBC News. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  31. ^ "Gorran: Atkins suit a 'quest for knowledge'"[dead link‍]. CNN.com. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  32. ^ "Judge tosses suit of Florida man on Atkins diet"[dead link‍]. Reuters. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
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