More Dieters Ditch Carb Counts (AP)

AP ^ | Aug 2, 2005 | AP staff

[summer]

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- More dieters are ditching carb counts and biting into baguettes with gusto these days. ...

This week's bankruptcy filing by the late Dr. Robert C. Atkins' old company provide fresh evidence of the low-carb diet's demise, a downward spiral that began early last year. But no single new diet has filled the void.

Observers say the only sure thing -- given the boom-and-bust nature of weight-loss trends -- is that something will pop up eventually.

''There isn't one single strong contender,'' said Anne M. Russell, editor-in-chief of Shape magazine. ''If you look at what the single largest trend is, it's weight gain.''

Chapter 11 filings by Atkins Nutritionals Inc. on Monday came about a year and a half after books like ''The Atkins Essentials'' rode the best seller charts, bread makers were back on their heels and Burger King introduced a Whopper without a bun.

But Atkins has been in decline since February 2004, said Harry Balzer, a food industry analyst at market researcher NPD Group. Balzer claims Atkins was one of those demanding diets that simply ran its course, going from fad to fade like so many others before it, including the Scarsdale and the cabbage soup diets.

How far and how fast did Atkins fall? By September 2004, surplus low-carb products were being shipped to food banks in Appalachia....

Ruth Kava, director of nutrition for the American Council on Science and Health, figures it might be something like a high-protein diet.

''Somebody will come up with something new,'' she said. ''There's a lot of creativity out there in Diet World."

----

On the Net:

Government dietary guidelines: mypyramid.com

[brytlea]

Actually, just eating low carb CAN do it. I'm proof. Certainly exercise is good for you (I'm an ex aerobics instructor, so I'm all about exercise). But when I went on it in about 1997, I lost about 40 lbs without doing any exercise (other than walking around that you normally do in a day--and I wasn't working, so it wasn't that much, believe me).
susie

[mtbopfuyn]

Dieters haven't ditched low carb, they've ditched the high priced Atkins products. Actually, the idea behind the diet was changed after Dr. Atkins died and the company was more concerned with making $$ rather than promoting the doctor's ideas. The book versions after his death were also going out in left field from his original diet. It's certainly not surprising the media and the uninformed public can't/won't distinquish between the company and the diet.

I can't believe people still think it's all about eating bacon piled high with butter three times a day. The only foods the "original" Atkins restricted was the same as what your greatgrandmother knew in her time - don't eat white foods (sugar, starch, and breads).

[Cooter]

Atkins Nutritionals Inc. failed because of increased competition. Today, there is a plethora of carb conscious products out there and the Atkins stuff is on the expensive end of the scale. They lost their virtual monopoly and weren't able to respond well.

[sheltonmac]

I wasn't surprised Atkins filed for bankruptcy, but it always amazed me how long the popularity of his diet lasted. It was so damaging to the body.

What do you mean? The Atkins diet has been around for over 30 years, so it can hardly be called a fad diet. And what evidence do you have that it's damaging to the body?

Personally, I have never tried the Atkins diet. I believe in the "everything in moderation" philosophy. Too much of anything can be bad, but there is no denying that a low-carb, low-sugar diet is healthy. I prefer to look at it as a more all-natural diet--that is, staying away from processed ingredients like high-fructose corn syrups, artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated oils, etc.

[starfish923]

Diets almost always fail. It doesn't matter what kind they are.

People overeat and under-exercise because that is the easier way to live. Sloth and gluttony are two of the seven deadly sins for a reason.

People KNOW this.
They really want to continue to overeat and under-exercise so they look for an easy way out.

Diets offer the promise of an easier way out.
Pills, drinks, magic candy bars, special exercise equipment.....they ALL offer the promise of instant, er, well, "3-week" promise of a better something or other.
People want the MAGIC PILL.

The only way to get fit and lose fat is to stop thinking in terms of WEIGHT and LOOKS.
It's just too simple -- EAT LESS and EXERCISE MORE.

Way too simple.

[BibChr]

The problem for me is, Atkins bars are the best!

I haven't found anything nearly as good as the chocolate PB bar -- must others are like chewing hardened Play-Do or clay. Ditto S'Mores, and their new granola bars. And believe me, I've looked!

Dan
)c8

[little jeremiah]

I agree. It was not a diet that could be sustained, and if people did sustain, it was so unbalanced it would lead to all manner of health problems.

The solution, which I am working on, is eating less, less fats and refined sugars, no artifical or pre-prepared foods, never any sodas and few if any desserts, and exercise more.

It also helps greatly to never eat at night (like after dark), and there are certain herbs which help with fat metabolism. And I DON'T mean Herbalife.

[summer]

Good grief; I can't believe there are people on this forum defending the Atkins Plan - it was HORRIBLE! Yes, I read the book.

If you google "Atkins" AND "Dangerous" you get OVER 362,000 (three hundred sixty-two thousand) entires that pop up. So, take your pick as to which "DANGEROUS" article you like best!

CNN.com - Group says Atkins diet dangerous - Nov. 20, 2003 A nutrition advocacy group said Thursday the popular Atkins diet has caused heart disease and could have killed a teen-age dieter and urged the government ... www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/ diet.fitness/11/20/diet.heart.reut/ - 45k - Cached - Similar pages

Atkins Diet Dangerous Make Way for the Atkins Diet! Danger Ahead? "Diets with a very low carbohydrate and therefore high fat content are advertised to the public, ... www.healthbulletin.org/weight_loss/weight18.htm - 20k - Cached - Similar pages

Atkins Facts - Atkins Diet 'Dangerous' Exposing the unhealthy truth about low carb diets. www.atkinsexposed.org/ atkins/64/Atkins_Diet_Dangerous.htm - 45k - Cached - Similar pages

Atkins diet dangerous for kids, says top child nutritionist A top child nutrition specialist has said that children should avoid the Atkins diet. www.medicalnewstoday.com/index.php?newsid=5971 - 27k - Cached - Similar pages

topic: Atkins diet dangerous long term ...... Subscribe | Add to Favourites · Post new thread. Author:, Subject: Atkins diet dangerous long term ...... netchicken. Super Administrator * * * * * * * * * ... xmb.stuffucanuse.com/xmb/viewthread.php?tid=705 - 28k - Cached - Similar pages

Group cites evidence Atkins diet dangerous Group cites evidence Atkins diet dangerous. Last Updated: 2003-11-20 15:44:59 -0400 (Reuters Health). WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A nutrition advocacy group said ... myhealth.barnesjewish.org/ healthnews/reuters/20031120elin007.htm - 20k - Cached - Similar pages...

[AmericanChef]

Gotta agree with ByDesign. Many people failed on Atkins because they didn't understand or follow the long-term program. They stuck to the initial elimination portion of the diet and predictably got bored.

The Atkins diet was a quite reasonable one, incorporating carbs - good ones - into the diet over time on a regular basis. The main thing over the long term was to eat better, and less of everything. And, get exercise. Nothing wrong with all that.

[brytlea]

Right! I've lost weight very effectively by watching carbs (basically, lots of salad, avoiding bread, cake, potatoes), but I've also gained it back by returning to my preferred, almond-torte-rich diet.

Been there done that. I have fallen off the wagon several times (usually around the holidays when the kids are home and temptations abound!) In addition to gaining weight, I feel like something I think I can't post here when I do that! And low fat diets make me feel awful too.

susie

[OrangeDaisy]

The low carb products have been wonderful for those of us who are insulin resistant or diabetic. Although we do not have to eat a carb free diet, we do need to limit the carbs we eat with each meal or snack. The low carb products made it easy for us to do so. If they fade away from the market, it will be more difficult for us to limit carbs. Not impossible, just more difficult.

[Spunky]

"It was so damaging to the body."

OMG! Did I damage my body by losing 50 lbs?

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

I noticed the South Beach diet foods contain items that are not allowed during the first two phases, I would like to know why the doctor who introduced the diet and guidelines is selling out to Kraft...that being said I love this program and had great success on it. I will not buy any of the Kraft products.

[ByDesign]

Actually, just eating low carb CAN do it. I'm proof. Certainly exercise is good for you (I'm an ex aerobics instructor, so I'm all about exercise). But when I went on it in about 1997, I lost about 40 lbs without doing any exercise (other than walking around that you normally do in a day--and I wasn't working, so it wasn't that much, believe me).
susie

Really? You're lucky! :)

I've found that I can maintain by just eating lo-carb, but weight loss only happens with exercise. Which is good, because it keeps me going to the gym, which I have a love/hate relationship with - I hate it when I walk in, love it when I walk out!

Okay, I'll take that statement back, thanks!

[brytlea]

Uh, I have a degree in exercise physiology.
susie

[Lekker 1]

I believe in the "everything in moderation" philosophy.

Everything in moderation? Wife-beating in moderation? How about murdering innocent people in moderation? Guess I find the "everything in moderation" very curious indeed. :-)

[ByDesign]

"Everything in moderation" is a very solid philosphy to have - unless you have an abused body, like most obese people. Lo-carb is one way to overcome the out-of-kilter systems obese people have, I think moderate carbs for the obese would simply maintain the weight they have.

What very few "get" (and I'm not saing you) is drastically reduced carbs (40 grams a day, no sugar no flour no milk) is for weight loss - maintainance lo-carb allows more - thus, moderation.

The common misconception is lo-carb means NO-carb, which simply isn't true.

[brytlea]

Yeah, I will miss some of his candy. But, if you want a great recipe for low carb crepes that are actually better (according to my non low carb hubby) freepmail me. It is out of this world and not too hard to make.
susie

[SE Mom]

Other than some possible genetic trends- the answer to weight loss is the same as it was 50 years ago- eat a well-balanced diet, cut back on ice-cream helpings ;) and EXERCISE regularly.

[auto power]

Once again, this article is not accurate. Atkins has been around since the 1950's. I know, because my mom went on it when I was about 7 years old. Fast forward to 2005, the only beef we had with Atkins was with their products...they were expensive and most did not really taste all that great. (Their pasta tasted like rubber bands.) All in all, the Atkins diet does work. When you cut out the "bad" carbs, you have no appetite. You can eat low carb bread and Hood makes a great orange juice. We've been on Atkins for 2 years and plan on making it a way of healthy life.