Introduction

100’s of diet books and thousands of web sites, claim that the answer lies with their particular prescription for tweaking the proportions of fat, carbohydrate and protein that we eat. Some focus on the idea that certain forms of carbohydrate — those with a low 'glycaemic index', which are metabolized more slowly — are more conducive to weight loss than others. A multibillion-dollar industry hangs on these claims. Robert Atkins, the New York doctor who championed the low-carbohydrate approach, is no longer with us, having perished last April after slipping on an icy street. Atkins Nutritionals, the company he founded to market his diet and related products, is very much alive — in October, two leading investment firms together paid a sum rumoured to be as high as $800 million for a controlling stake.

But do any of these diets work? And are they safe? "The public is frantic for a sane voice amid the cacophony of popular diets," says Marion Nestle, who chairs the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at New York University.
Good rigorous evaluation

So does the Atkins empire have anything to worry about? There's 'BIG' money in dieting so even if Atkins had evaluated the impact of their approach, commercial sensitivity would mean they would'nt want the results widely known. In his book-Mindless Eating Why we eat more than we think, Dr Brian Wansink of The Cornell and Brand Lab summaries the Atkins Diet like this-
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Atkins Diet

Discription
Advantages
Disadvantages
The theory: Weight gain isn't caused by fat or portion size-its caused by the way our bodies deal with the breakdown of processed and starchy carbohydrates

Promotes rapid weight loss.

Very restrictive.
Very high protein allows virtually no carbohydrates particularly in the initial stages.

Enables dieters to eat unlimited protein-rich and high-fat foods.

Condones high consumption of saturated fats.
By cutting out carbohydrates dieters will go into a state where their bodies begin to burn off stored fat.

Has been proven effective.

Can cause bad breath, nausea and headache particular in the initial stage.
After the initial stage, the diet provides a maintenance program, which gradually reintroduces limited carbohydrates into the diet

Quick and inexpensive

Cuts out many valuable nutrients.




Not suitable for vegetarians.




Raises concerns about long-term effects of such high levels of protein and fat upon vital organs.
Conclusion

Despite being about for nearly 30 yrs, there is a paucity of good rigorious evidence to support the Atkins diets safety or efficacy. However other than gastric surgery, no longterm, consistently effective weight loss programme has been developed.



http://hubpages.com/hub/What-todo-when-your-weight-loss-slows-or-plateaus-An-analysis-of-ideas-to-kick-start-it-up-again
http://hubpages.com/hub/My-top-3-diet-books
http://hubpages.com/hub/To-Atkins-or-not-to-Atkins-that-is-the-dieters-conundrum http://hubpages.com/hub/10-things-to-consider-for-maintaining-long-term-weight-loss http://hubpages.com/hub/Strategies-to-review-weight-A-review-of-the-evidence
http://hubpages.com/hub/The-use-of-plants-in-weight-loss
http://hubpages.com/hub/A-review-of-the-main-points-to-consider-in-getting-that-lean-look
The author-Ian Turner, has worked in health for 25 yrs. He has worked in clinical and managerial positions in the NHS and gained a MSc in Strategic Health from Exeter University in England. He is widely published and a keen athlete, mountaineer and gym goer. Additionally he is a qualified NLP practitioner, CBT trained counsellor, Psych-dynamic trained therapist and Ericksonian hypnotherapist.