There have been several studies published recently that show
low-carb dieters losing more weight and consuming more
calories than a low-fat group of dieters. This one is on the
www.atkinscenter.com website:

Teens Triumph on Controlled Carbohydrate Program
A recent but significant study pokes a large hole in the idea that weight
loss is simply a matter of restricting calories(1). Results of the study,
conducted at Schneider Children's Hospital in New Hyde Park, N.Y., were
presented at a meeting of the Society for Adolescent Medicine in Washington,
D.C. Marc Jacobson, M.D., reported on his findings, involving children
ranging in age from 12 to 18, all of whom were between 20 and 100 pounds
overweight. He found that teens following a controlled carb plan were more
successful in their weight-loss efforts than those following a low-fat,
high-carb plan, even though the former ate an average of 730 more calories
daily.

Members of the controlled carb group were allowed to eat as many calories as
they wanted in the form of meat, fish, fowl and cheese, two salads a day and
minimal other carbs. The low-fat group ate fat-free dairy products, whole
grains, low-fat meats, poultry and fish and many fruits and vegetables. They
were limited to 1,100 calories a day. The results speak for themselves:
Teens in the controlled carb group lost an average of 19 pounds during a
12-week period; low-fat dieters averaged 8.5 pounds. The controlled carb
group also showed a greater decrease in overall serum cholesterol levels and
triglyceride levels were reduced by 52 percent, as compared to a 10 percent
drop for the low-fat group. High-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good,"
cholesterol levels increased in the controlled carb group and decreased in
the low-fat group.

Two myths often perpetuated by critics of Atkins were also addressed in this
study. Skeptics who don't actually understand the process of
lipolysis/ketosis have often stated that the Atkins Nutritional ApproachTM
is effective only because fewer calories are consumed. As Atkins followers
can attest, they can eat plenty of delicious, whole foods. In the Schneider
study, the controlled carb group consumed an average of 1,830 calories a
day, 66 percent more than the low-fat group's average, while losing almost 1
pound more per week. Another myth is that Atkins can damage kidneys.
Schneider researchers monitored kidney and liver functions and found that
they were unaffected by the controlled carb diet.

Dr. Jacobson attributes the weight loss success of the controlled carb
dieters to suppressed insulin levels, resulting from carbohydrate
restriction. This, in turn, stops the body from "laying down new fat," he
says, forcing it to burn fat already accumulated in the body. After three
months on a weight-loss plan, study participants followed a maintenance diet
that included additional carbohydrates. Six to 12 months later, most of the
controlled carb followers had maintained their new weight. The study
provides additional evidence for the efficacy of a high-protein, controlled
carb weight loss program, specifically for teenagers.

Selected References
Sondike, S.B., Copperman, N.M., Jacobson, M.S., "Low Carbohydrate Dieting
Increases Weight Loss but not Cardiovascular Risk in Obese Adolescents: A
Randomized Controlled Trial,"Journal of Adolescent Health, 26, 2000, page
91.


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If you're one of the many college students trying to shed a few pounds,
you
might be thinking about going on a diet.

Maybe you're fighting the freshman 15 or you just want to turn a few heads
at Venice Beach. Whatever your reason, you've probably heard of the Atkins
diet - the low-carbohydrate, high-protein and high-fat diet created by
cardiologist Robert Atkins 30 years ago.

The regimen instructs dieters to throw the low-fat adages out with all
their
breads and pastas, and encourages people to eat as much bacon and eggs as
they wish.

During the first two weeks dieters eat no more than 20g of carbs -
equivalent to a single slice of bread or a serving of corn. Later, the
carb
level is increased slightly until weight loss stops. There are no limits
on
protein or fat.

Surprisingly, recent studies show that the Atkins diet works - at least
for
a while. Although participants eat high-fat meals, they actually lose
weight
more quickly on the Atkins diet than on a low-fat diet.

But is it really possible to eat fatty foods and be thinner?

In April, the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at all
the
studies available and found people lost weight on the diet because they
ate
fewer calories altogether even though more of their calories came from
fat.
Protein is more filling than carbohydrates, which probably helps people on
the Atkins diet feel less hungry.

But before you rush out for 4x4 cheeseburgers at In-N-Out, you should know
there are some definite drawbacks. Eating less fruit and whole grains
means
missing out on cancer-fighting benefits of anti-oxidants and fiber.

Eating lots of protein can decrease the amount of calcium in your bones,
increasing your risk for osteoporosis later in life. Calcium loss is even
more of a concern while you're in college because you gain most of your
bone
mass before you reach 30. Increased levels of fat and protein are also
linked to kidney stones and kidney problems. Other minor problems include
constipation and bad breath.

Physicians are most concerned about the high amount of saturated fat in
the
diet. Saturated fat, which is especially high in red meat and dairy
products, contributes to heart attacks and other heart diseases. However,
a
study in the May New England Journal of Medicine shows the effects of the
diet on the heart may not be so bad.

Even though more of their calories come from fat, Atkins dieters eat
slightly less fat overall than they do regularly, and cholesterol levels
actually improved more in individuals on the Atkins diet than in those on
a
traditional low-fat regimen.

If you want to try a low-carb diet, a healthier version may involve
getting
most of protein from chicken, fish, and nuts, which contain less saturated
fat. Keep in mind, though, that the Atkins diet, like all diets, is not
great at helping you lose weight or stay healthy in the long-term.

After one year, the New England Journal study found the average amount of
weight loss on the Atkins diet was small, only about 4.5 percent after a
year. By then, four out of 10 of those on the Atkins diet had dropped it,
and those still on the low-carb diet actually gained back about half the
weight they lost.

Diets are short-term and, unfortunately, so is the weight loss associated
with them. The best way to really make a long-term impact on your health
is
to incorporate small changes in diet along with an exercise plan that
you're
comfortable with.

Check out the Student Nutrition Action Committee
(www.studenthealth.ucla.edu/snac) at the Ashe Center for nutritional tips
and body image and fitness workshops.