.

   

 

 Weight| MHC Home  

Weight

  

High-Protein, Low Carbohydrate Diets

 

 A small study presented at the recent annual American Heart Association meeting sponsored by the Atkins Foundation has created enormous media comment. The study showed that on a high protein-low carbohydrate diet people lost more weight than on a low-fat "AHA Diet", and they did not raise their cholesterol levels. To help set the record straight, the American Heart Association (AHA) has issued a formal response. Here are the AHA's concerns:
  • The study is very small (60 people on the diet)
  • It was a short term study (only 6 months)
  • There is no evidence that the diet is effective long term
  • The high intake of saturated fats over time raises great concern about cardiovascular risk -- the study did not follow participants long enough to evaluate this aspect
  • The study did not actually compare the Atkins diet with the current AHA dietary recommendations
  • People who want to lose weight and keep it off need to make lifestyle changes for the long term -- this means regular exercise and a healthy diet you can maintain for a lifetime

In contrast to this small study, the AHA is emphasizing a 12 year Harvard study, also reported at this meeting but with little or no media coverage. This study included 74,000 people and showed that those who consumed more fruits and vegetables were 26% less likely to become obese than those who ate few fruits and vegetables (as advocated in the Atkins diet).  The AHA stresses that this is a much more compelling study regarding weight control because it involved a large population for many years.

 

 

Reference

American Heart Association News release, Nov. 19, 2002


Making Healthy Choices articles are written by Don Hall, DrPH, CHES president of LifeLong Health with contributions from associated health professionals. Content is general health information from evidence based research. It's purpose is not to treat disease or take the place of advice by your doctor but to promote healthy lifestyles. Persons with health problems should contact their physician for specific guidance.

Copyrighted 2002 by PrevMedix LLC. All rights reserved. Do not make unauthorized copies.

Updated: 12/17/02