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Americans Abandoning Low-Carb Diets -Survey
AP ^ | July 14, 2004 | Reuters

Posted on 07/14/2004 4:23:35 PM PDT by Nachum

NEW YORK (Reuters) - So much for the low-carbohydrate lifestyle.

More than half of all U.S. consumers that have tried following diets that eschew carbs such as bread and sugar have given up, a survey released on Wednesday found, and interest in the popular regimens appears to have plateaued.

According to research firm InsightExpress, which conducted the survey online, fewer than 10 percent of Americans are currently on popular low-carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins, South Beach and The Zone.

In contrast, a survey conducted in December of last year by Opinion Dynamics Corporation found that, at the time, 11 percent of Americans were on low-carb diets.

The latest InsightExpress poll of 500 Americans also found that of survey participants who were not following low-carb diets, fewer than one in five would consider buying a low-carb product because they perceive a diet low in carbs to be unhealthy.

That's unwelcome news for U.S. food companies such as H.J. Heinz Co. and General Mills Inc. that have scrambled in the past year to keep up with the low-carb trend by reformulating staples such as ketchup, cereal and yogurt to reduce their carbohydrate content.

In fact, Legg Mason beverage analyst Mark Swartzberg said on Wednesday that sales of mid-calorie colas recently introduced by both PepsiCo Inc. and Coca-Cola Co. "are either slow builds or something closer to dead on arrival."

In a research note, Swartzberg said the findings were based on feedback from 51 U.S. retailers who had devoted shelf space to Coke's C2 and Pepsi's Pepsi Edge colas. The products, launched in June, were intended to appeal to calorie- and carb-wary consumers, reducing the sugar by adding Splenda, an alternative sweetener.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abandoning; americans; atkins; diet; diets; health; lowcarb; survey
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To: Nachum

21 posted on 07/14/2004 4:48:59 PM PDT by traumer
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To: Nachum

A month ago, I went to the dentist for a cleaning. The hygienist takes your BP before working (A CYA move?). She told me she wouldn't work on me because my BP was very high and to get to the doctor right away.
My doctor had an opening that day and checked me out. Everyting was fine except for my weight and bp and I felt fine. I work out 5 days a week and hike on the weekends, but I was about 75 lbs overweight.
He put me on medicine and told me to go on the Atkins diet. My BP is close to normal (130/85) now and I have lost 18 lbs in a month. If you follow it, it tells you to eat reasonable amounts of food, not overeat on meat like some people do.
I was eating those frozen dinners almost exclusively, but now have a lot of fresh meat and vegetables in my diet.


22 posted on 07/14/2004 4:49:28 PM PDT by Wacka
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To: johnfrink

The only diet that works: Eat less, exercise more.


...and if you don't want to exercise then just don't swallow when you eat.


23 posted on 07/14/2004 4:54:26 PM PDT by sawmill trash
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To: SeattleNeedsHelp
"Americans Abandoning Low-Carb Diets " :o)
24 posted on 07/14/2004 4:54:42 PM PDT by traumer
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To: RoseofTexas

Yep! Also, don't eat while watching TV, and don't eat until you feel full.


25 posted on 07/14/2004 4:55:49 PM PDT by johnfrink
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To: Nachum
low-carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins, South Beach and The Zone.

On the contrary, the Zone is not a low-carb diet. It recommends plenty of carbs, almost too much to eat, but they are low-glycemic carbs like fruit and veggies, rather than high-glycemic carbs like pasta and bread. The Zone is an excellent balanced diet that works.

26 posted on 07/14/2004 4:55:59 PM PDT by Veto!
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To: SolidSupplySide

It is surprising that 10% or more of the population is on a diet at any given time let alone the same kind of diet. People need to get away from fad diets especially ones as counter intuitive as Atkins and ever low carb diets. If the gurus are saying eat less bleached flour, sugar, and other obviously poor quality calories that is fine. However, to convince people that whole grains, fruits, and baked potatoes are some sort of poison is awful. There is also a great amount of common sense that would advocate moderation and balance in food intake and exercise.


27 posted on 07/14/2004 4:56:01 PM PDT by Honestfreedom
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To: Nachum
I'm perfectly happy and healthy with Atkins. I've lost 40 lbs and dropped from 28.5% fat to 21.5% fat. My wife has ditched 40 lbs. She was getting snug in size 18 clothes. Now her size 8 is comfy. This story reminds my of the newspaper ad for the Nordic Track equipment: Like new. Hardly used. Call 555-1212. Ask for Tubby.
28 posted on 07/14/2004 4:56:36 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: traumer
"Americans Abandoning Low-Carb Diets " :o)

Another one:


29 posted on 07/14/2004 4:59:22 PM PDT by A. Pole (Capt. Lionel Mandrake: "Condition Red, sir, yes, jolly good idea. That keeps the men on their toes.")
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To: Nachum

Edge and C2 are lower carb, not low-carb.


30 posted on 07/14/2004 4:59:43 PM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (...He had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here...-- Worst.President.Ever.)
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To: lelio
Wow, going from 11% down to 10% out of a survey of 500 people means that instead of 55 people saying they are on a low-carb diet 5 less people did. How can that show a trend of anything?

Good catch!
31 posted on 07/14/2004 5:00:34 PM PDT by birbear (Kinda cold.... kinda sticky....)
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To: Nachum
In fact, Legg Mason beverage analyst Mark Swartzberg said on Wednesday that sales of mid-calorie colas recently introduced by both PepsiCo Inc. and Coca-Cola Co. "are either slow builds or something closer to dead on arrival."

Exhibit one for why people are frustrated. This "low carb" cola is packed with sugar! It has half of what is in a coke, which is just another way of saying it has about four days worth of carbs in it. And this is the case of a lot of "low carb" products, which are certainly not fit for a real low carb plan. So people think they can eat low carb pizza and cookies and wash them down with a low carb coke and are shocked when the pounds dont slide off! Go figure...

32 posted on 07/14/2004 5:03:31 PM PDT by pepsi_junkie (I know, I know....I don't drink it anymore!)
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To: commish
I have foregone Potatoes, Corn, Refined Flour products, pasta, and foods with Sugar.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooo!

33 posted on 07/14/2004 5:05:16 PM PDT by snopercod (Robert Bork for recess appointment to the Supreme Court)
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To: GraniteStateConservative
Edge and C2 are lower carb, not low-carb.

And taste like they've been filtered through a dirty sock.

Pepsi Edge is tolerable -- it basically tastes like they forgot to add most of the syrup to the carbonated water, so you get a really empty cola flavor (not the richness like you expect)

C2 tastes like....well...I imagine urine having the same qualities as C2.
34 posted on 07/14/2004 5:05:24 PM PDT by birbear (Kinda cold.... kinda sticky....)
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To: SeattleNeedsHelp

I see Mike is wearing "slimming" black. Is he getting fatter or is it just me?


35 posted on 07/14/2004 5:08:12 PM PDT by luvbach1 (Leftists don't acknowledge that Reagan won the cold war because they rooted for the other side.)
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To: Veto!
The Zone works for me IF I exercise constantly. I went from 216 to 162 in 1996 on the Zone. I also skated almost 60 miles per week (20 miles on each of 3 days. 15 miles was usually non-stop in around 66 minutes).

Moving to Idaho and 9-11-2001 took away the 5 mile paved loop of asphalt where I could skate. A section of that path crosses the dam over Miramar reservoir in San Diego. Now I follow Atkins and lift weights M-W-F. I can do that in my basement year 'round. My wife prefers the Nordic Track treadmill. I programmed that using shareware call I2Workout for a 45 minute walk at inclines of 2.5% to 10% and speeds of 2.5 MPH to 4.2 MPH. She lifts some weights too. We run off to Yellowstone National Park about every other week. Hiking at 7,500 to 8,500 above MSL gets your heart rate up a bit too.

36 posted on 07/14/2004 5:09:21 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Nachum
In a research note, Swartzberg said the findings were based on feedback from 51 U.S. retailers who had devoted shelf space to Coke's C2 and Pepsi's Pepsi Edge colas.

Oh I am shocked. NOT! These things are still loaded with sugar. If you are doing Atkins, South Beach or Sugar Busters they are still no nos. On Atkins especially because they are sweetened with HFCS which is 100% a no no even in phase four.

It was a dumb idea.

37 posted on 07/14/2004 5:12:14 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (This uniform needs something; something that says I'm here to destroy you, but with a sense of fun)
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To: Nachum

It is all part of the left wing vegan meat eaters suck agenda rammed down our throats by the AP. Eleven percent and now down below ten. Wow, huge drop, really newsworthy. AGENDA.


38 posted on 07/14/2004 5:14:51 PM PDT by satchmodog9 (Murder and Weather are our only news.)
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To: Swordmaker
This sounds like mere wishful thinking on the Carbohydrate Industrialist's part.

I agree with this. I have been on Atkins several years. I'm not going to ever get off of it.

39 posted on 07/14/2004 5:16:48 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: Nachum

The worst part of this is, because so many people jumped into the diet without knowing or needing to, now that alot of them are going to quit, the diet will get a bad reputation. This is a shame, because it works, and for some people, it might be the only thing that helps them. I am NOT a big fan of low-carb, but it SHOULD remain an option for those who have problems losing weight. But those on it should be smart about it, I am afraid that most of the newbees are just jumping into it without knowing what they are doing.


40 posted on 07/14/2004 5:25:38 PM PDT by Paradox (Occam was probably right.)
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