en:Atkins diet

{{Further|Low-carbohydrate diet}}

There is weak evidence that the Atkins diet is more effective than behavioral counseling for weight loss at 6-12 months. The Atkins diet led to 0.1% to 2.9% more weight loss at one year compared to control groups which received behavioural counselling for weight loss. As with other commercial weight loss programs, the effect size is smaller over longer periods.{{cite journal|last1=Gudzune|first1=KA|last2=Doshi|first2=RS|last3=Mehta|first3=AK|last4=Chaudhry|first4=ZW|last5=Jacobs|first5=DK|last6=Vakil|first6=RM|last7=Lee|first7=CJ|last8=Bleich|first8=SN|last9=Clark|first9=JM|title=Efficacy of commercial weight-loss programs: an updated systematic review.|journal=Annals of Internal Medicine|date=7 April 2015|volume=162|issue=7|pages=501–12|pmid=25844997|doi=10.7326/M14-2238|pmc=4446719|quote=Atkins resulted in 0.1% to 2.9% greater weight loss at 12 months than counseling. }}{{cite journal| author = Harper, A | journal = Obesity Reviews| volume = 5| issue = 2| pages = 93–94| year = 2004| doi = 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2004.00137.x| pmid = 15086862| last2 = Astrup| first2 = A| title=Can we advise our obese patients to follow the Atkins diet?| s2cid = 40176596|quote=Despite the popularity and apparent success of the Atkins diet, documented scientific evidence in support of its use unfortunately lags behind. |type=editorial| doi-access = free}} Low-carb dieters' initial advantage in weight loss is likely a result of increased water loss, and that after the initial period, low-carbohydrate diets produce similar fat loss to other diets with similar caloric intake.{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/oby.2001.113 |pmid=11374180 |title=Executive Summary |journal=Obesity Research |volume=9 |pages=1S–40S |year=2001 |last1=Freedman |first1=Marjorie R |last2=King |first2=Janet |last3=Kennedy |first3=Eileen |doi-access=free }}

Atkins did not publish any clinical data on his patients and has thus been criticized for making unsupported statements about health.{{cite journal|author=Riche, William Harding le|year=1981|title= Foods, fads and fallacies|journal=Modern Medicine|url=https://journals.co.za/doi/epdf/10.10520/AJA02599333_832|volume=6|issue=10|pages=5–15|hdl=10520/AJA02599333_832 }} Because of its high saturated fat content the Atkins diet may increase the risk of heart disease.{{cite book |last1=Alters|first1=Sandra|last2=Schiff|first2=Wendy|title=Essential Concepts for Healthy Living. Chapter 10: Body Weight and Its Management|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VegUiVbruBMC&pg=PA327 |date=22 February 2012 |publisher=Jones & Bartlett Publishers |isbn=978-1-4496-3062-1 |page=327 |edition=Sixth}} A medical report issued by the New York medical examiner's office a year after the author's death showed that he had a history of heart attack, congestive heart failure and hypertension.{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB107637899384525268 |title=Report Details Dr. Atkins's Health Problems |access-date=January 1, 2015 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal}} The Atkins diet has been criticized by the American Medical Association, American Dietetic Association and the American Heart Association as nutritionally unbalanced.{{cite journal|vauthors= St Jeor ST, Howard BV, Prewitt TE, Bovee V, Bazzarre T, Eckel RH|title= Dietary protein and weight reduction: a statement for healthcare professionals from the Nutrition Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism of the American Heart Association|journal= Circulation|volume= 104|issue= 15|pages= 1869–74|date= October 2001|pmid= 11591629|doi= 10.1161/hc4001.096152|doi-access=free}} In 2000, Journal of the American College of Nutrition conducted a study which determined that “the very high fats of Atkins diet: 60%–68%, around 26% of which are saturates, through shifting the metabolic pathway for energy production, deliver a strong boost to free radical production, thereby increasing oxidative stress on different organs”. {{Cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=J. W. |last2=Konz |first2=E. C. |last3=Jenkins |first3=D. J. |date=October 2000 |title=Health advantages and disadvantages of weight-reducing diets: a computer analysis and critical review |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11022871/ |journal=Journal of the American College of Nutrition |volume=19 |issue=5 |pages=578–590 |doi=10.1080/07315724.2000.10718955 |issn=0731-5724 |pmid=11022871|s2cid=25815308 }}

{{further|Ketogenic diet#Modified Atkins}}

Ketogenic diets are used to treat epilepsy in children, where there is some evidence it has a positive effect in reducing seizures.{{Cite report |url=https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/management-infantile-epilepsy/research |title=Management of Infantile Epilepsies |last1=Treadwell |first1=Jonathan R. |last2=Wu |first2=Mingche |date=2022-10-25 |publisher=Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) |doi=10.23970/ahrqepccer252 |last3=Tsou |first3=Amy Y.|url-access=subscription }} There is some evidence that adults too may experience seizure reduction derived from therapeutic ketogenic diets, and that a less strict regimen, such as a modified Atkins diet, is similarly effective.{{cite journal|last1=Freeman|first1=JM|last2=Kossoff|first2=EH|last3=Hartman|first3=AL|s2cid=26629499|title=The ketogenic diet: one decade later.|journal=Pediatrics|date=March 2007|volume=119|issue=3|pages=535–43|pmid=17332207|doi=10.1542/peds.2006-2447}}

File:Eggs and bacon.jpg

The Atkins diet has been described as a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, high-protein fad diet.{{cite encyclopedia|vauthors=Gardiner S, Gilman SL|editor=Gilman SL|encyclopedia=Diets and Dieting: A Cultural Encyclopedia|title=Atkins, Robert, MD (1930-2003) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWmRAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA12|year=2008|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-87068-3|page=12}} It promotes the consumption of meat, cheese, eggs and other high-fat foods such as butter, mayonnaise and sour cream in unlimited amounts whilst bread, cereal, pasta and other carbohydrates are forbidden. Atkins' book New Diet Revolution has sold 12 million copies. It has been described as "the bestselling fad-diet book ever written."

Preferred foods in all categories are whole, unprocessed foods with a low glycemic index, although restrictions for low glycemic carbohydrates (black rice, vegetables, etc.) are the same as those for high glycemic carbohydrates (sugar, white bread). Due to concerns from medical experts about the high-fat content of the diet, the Atkins Nutritionals company that market foods for the diet, recommends that no more than 20% of calories eaten while on the diet come from saturated fat.{{cite news |publisher=BBC |date=January 19, 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3408931.stm |title=Atkins diet boss: 'Eat less fat' |work=BBC News |access-date=September 12, 2007 }}

The diet was inspired by a low-carbohydrate approach published by Alfred W. Pennington, based on research Pennington did during World War II at DuPont.{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Douglas|title=Dr. Robert C. Atkins, Author of Controversial but Best-Selling Diet Books, Is Dead at 72|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/18/nyregion/dr-robert-c-atkins-author-controversial-but-best-selling-diet-books-dead-72.html|work=The New York Times|date=April 18, 2003}} The Atkins diet is promoted with claims that carbohydrate restriction is the "key" to weight loss.{{cite journal |vauthors=Katz DL |title=Pandemic obesity and the contagion of nutritional nonsense |journal=Public Health Rev |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=33–44 |year=2003 |pmid=14656042 }}

In his early books such as Dr Atkins' New Diet Revolution, Atkins made the controversial argument that the low-carbohydrate diet produces a metabolic advantage because "burning fat takes more calories so you expend more calories"; the Atkins diet was claimed to be "a high calorie way to stay thin forever".{{cite book | last = Atkins | first = Robert | author-link = Robert Atkins (nutritionist) | title = Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition | publisher = .Evans | date = 2003-09-25 | url = https://archive.org/details/dratkinsnewdiet000atki | isbn = 978-1-59077-002-3 | url-access = registration }} He cited one study in which he estimated this advantage to be 950 calories (4.0 MJ) per day. A review study published in Lancet{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(04)16986-9 |pmid=15351198 |title=Atkins and other low-carbohydrate diets: Hoax or an effective tool for weight loss? |journal=The Lancet |volume=364 |issue=9437 |pages=897–9 |year=2004 |last1=Astrup |first1=Arne |last2=Larsen |first2=Thomas Meinert |last3=Harper |first3=Angela |s2cid=24756993 }} concluded that there was no such metabolic advantage and dieters were simply eating fewer calories. Astrup stated, "The monotony and simplicity of the diet could inhibit appetite and food intake." David L. Katz has characterized Atkins' claim as nonsense. The idea of "metabolic advantage" of low-carbohydrate dieting has been falsified by experiment in a study of people following restricted-carbohydrate dieting.{{cite journal| author=Hall KD| title=A review of the carbohydrate-insulin model of obesity. | journal=Eur J Clin Nutr | year= 2017 | volume= 71 | issue= 3 | pages= 323–326 | pmid=28074888 | doi=10.1038/ejcn.2016.260 | s2cid=54484172 |type=Review }}

Atkins Nutritionals was founded in 1989 by Atkins to promote the sale of Atkins-branded products. Following his death, waning popularity of the diet and a reduction in demand for Atkins products, Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 31, 2005 citing losses of $340 million.[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8779500 Atkins Nutritionals files for bankruptcy – AP 1 August 2005]. It was subsequently purchased by North Castle Partners in 2007 and switched its emphasis to low-carb snacks.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4733893.stm "Atkins firm seeks financial help"]. BBC News. August 1, 2005. In 2010, the company was acquired by Roark Capital Group.{{cite news|last1=Bills|first1=Steve|title=Atkins delivers $118 mln dividend to Roark Capital|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/buyouts-atkins/buyouts-atkins-delivers-118-mln-dividend-to-roark-capital-idUSL1N0CCCEB20130320|work=Reuters|date=20 March 2013}} In 2017, Roark Capital Group announced that it would merge Atkins Nutritionals with Conyers Park Acquisition Corp to form a public company called Simply Good Foods.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2017/04/11/atlantas-roark-capital-in-deal-to-form-the-simply.html|title=Atlanta's Roark Capital in deal to form The Simply Good Foods Company|last=Allison|first=David|date=11 April 2017|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2019-11-19}}

Atkins's ideas were first published in his 1972 book Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution: The High Calorie Way to Stay Thin Forever.

The diet gained widespread popularity in 2003 and 2004. At the height of its popularity one in eleven North American adults claimed to be on a low-carb diet such as Atkins.{{cite news| last= Kaufman| first= Wendy| url= https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4783324| title= Atkins Bankruptcy a Boon for Pasta Makers| publisher= NPR| date= August 3, 2005}} This large following was blamed for large declines in the sales of carbohydrate-heavy foods like pasta and rice: sales were down 8.2 and 4.6 percent, respectively, in 2003. The diet's success was even blamed for a decline in Krispy Kreme sales.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1968804|title=Low-Carb Diets Trim Krispy Kreme's Profit Line|last=Schooler|first=Larry|date=June 22, 2004|publisher=NPR|access-date=12 March 2017}} Trying to capitalize on the "low-carb craze", many companies released special product lines that were low in carbohydrates.

Around that time, the percentage of American adults on the diet declined to two percent and sales of Atkins brand products fell steeply in the second half of 2004.{{cite news|last=Howard|first=Theresa|title=Atkins Nutritionals files for bankruptcy protection|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2005-08-01-atkins_x.htm?POE=MONISVA|access-date=11 November 2012|newspaper=USA Today|date=1 August 2005}}

A 2021 review article observed that, 50 years after it was first mooted, the Atkins diet was "coming back on the quackery scene again".{{cite journal |vauthors=Schutz Y, Montani JP, Dulloo AG |title=Low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets in body weight control: A recurrent plaguing issue of fad diets? |journal=Obes Rev |volume=22 |issue= Suppl 2|pages=e13195 |date=March 2021 |pmid=33471427 |doi=10.1111/obr.13195 |type=Review|doi-access=free }}

An analysis conducted by Forbes magazine found that the sample menu from the Atkins diet was one of the top five most expensive to eat, of the ten plans Forbes analyzed. This was due to the inclusion of recipes with some high-cost ingredients such as lobster tails which were put in the book to demonstrate the variety of foods which could be consumed on the diet. The analysis showed the median average cost of the ten diets was approximately 50% higher, and Atkins 80% higher, than the American national average. The Atkins diet was less expensive than the Jenny Craig diet and more expensive than Weight Watchers.[https://forbes.com/2005/04/06/cx_lrlh_0406costlycalories.html Costly Calories] Forbes.com

In 2004, Jody Gorran sued the estate of Robert Atkins and his company seeking $28,000 in damages. [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/27/us/dieter-sues-atkins-estate-and-company.html "Dieter Sues Atkins Estate and Company"]. The New York Times. Retrieved October 14, 2020.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3753581.stm "Atkins dieter sues after heart op"]. BBC News. Retrieved October 14, 2020. Gorran stated that he had followed the Atkins diet for two years and it raised his LDL-cholesterol so much that a major artery became clogged and he required an angioplasty and stent insertion to open it. On the Atkins diet he was eating large amounts of cheese which is high in saturated fat. Gorran commented that "the issue with the Atkins Diet was not so much that my cholesterol went up but it's the fact that the Atkins empire constantly stated that in the absence of refined carbohydrates, eating a great deal of saturated fat would not be a problem and that was a lie."[https://web.archive.org/web/20040623123522/http://edition.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/diet.fitness/05/27/gorran/index.html "Gorran: Atkins suit a 'quest for knowledge'"]. CNN.com. Retrieved October 14, 2020. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2007 as the Atkins diet consists of only "advice and ideas" that are protected by the First Amendment.[https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-atkins-lawsuit-s/judge-tosses-suit-of-florida-man-on-atkins-diet-idUSN1124109820061212 "Judge tosses suit of Florida man on Atkins diet"]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. Reuters. Retrieved October 14, 2020.

• Dukan Diet
• Ketogenic diet
• KE diet
• List of diets
• Online weight loss plans
• Protein poisoning
• PSMF diet

{{Reflist}}

{{Cookbook|Atkins Diet Cooking}}

• [http://www.atkins.com Official Atkins corporate site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219082414/http://www.atkins.com/ |date=2014-12-19 }}

{{Fad diets}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkins Diet}}

Category:Brand name diet products

Category:Fad diets

Category:Low-carbohydrate diets

Category:High-protein diets

Category:American inventions