East Carolinian

Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: MCT

Most everyone has been in the predicament: If only I could lose a couple of pounds, I would fit in this or that. No matter the situation, at one point in time, we have all wanted to get our bodies into that pair of skinny jeans.

However, with all of the fad diets and trends, it's almost impossible to determine which one is the right for you. From Weight Watchers to South Beach, Atkins and even a vinegar diet, literally hundreds of diets are out there that promise results. But which one is the right one? The East Carolinian took a look at what each plan guarantees and what they can do for your body.



Atkins Nutritional Approach



Created by Dr. Robert Atkins in 1972, the Atkins Diet is a mixture of low carbohydrate eating and a four-phase regime: induction, ongoing weight loss, pre-maintenance and lifetime maintenance.

The induction phase is designed to put the body in a state of ketosis, with only 20 net grams of carbohydrates allowed per day. While followers are allowed to eat meats, fish, eggs and salads, they are prohibited from alcohol intake. The induction phase is seen as one of the most significant phases, with many reporting weight loss of around five to 10 pounds per week.

The ongoing phase sees a small increase in carbohydrate intake at around five per week. It is also during this time that followers learn how food groups can affect craving control. It is suggested that more vegetables are added to the diet, along with a "ladder" of foods that should be eaten in the order in which they are written.

Carbohydrate intake is, once again, increased during the pre-maintenance phase with the intention of learning the maximum amount of carbs that can be eaten without gaining weight. Habits are later maintained during the lifetime maintenance phase.



The Atkins diet received heavy popularity in the early 2000s, with approximately one in 11 Americans using the diet. The food industry even felt the effects, with sales in certain foods plummeting. However, the diet was quickly blacklisted upon reports that Dr. Atkins had substantial heart problems, a result of his own diet. While these rumors were quickly dispelled, users of the diet were not convinced, and the Atkins Nutritional company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2005.

Atkins also endured medical controversy. While many of the studies were new and not always conclusive, some discovered that a low carbohydrate diet can be responsible for various metabolic and emotional side effects. However, another study found that women who adapted to the diet had a slightly less risk of developing coronary heart disease. Possible benefits for individuals with diabetes and cancer were also discovered.

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools