- The first official warning about the dangers of the Atkins
diet has been issued by the Government amid concern about the rising number
of people opting for the high-fat, high-protein regime.
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- The Food Standards Agency, which is responsible for all
the Government's nutritional guidance, has published a statement alerting
the public to the health risks of low-carbohydrate diets, including Atkins,
claiming that they are linked to heart disease, cancer and even obesity.
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- In the past two months senior nutritionists have held
talks with the Department of Health about the slimming fad and were asked
to investigate the full risks of the diet.
-
- But Ministers, who did not want to be accused of running
a 'nanny state' by issuing the warning themselves, decided that it would
be best if they were distanced from the advice, by letting it come from
food experts.
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- The dangers are clearly spelt out on the agency's website,
without actually naming the Atkins diet, which has been tried by more than
three million people in Britain.
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- 'Cutting out starchy foods, or any food group, can be
bad for your health because you could be missing out on a range of nutrients,'
the statement says. 'This type of diet also tends to be unrealistic and
dull, and not palatable enough to be tolerated for a long time.'
-
- It adds: 'High-fat diets are also associated with obesity,
which is increasing in the UK. People who are obese are more likely to
develop conditions such as diabetes and some cancers. Low-carb diets tend
to be high in fat, too, and eating a diet that is high in fat could increase
your chances of developing coronary heart disease.'
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- The advice, compiled in a question-and-answer style by
senior nutritionist Sam Church, states that rather than trying to avoid
carbohydrates, it is better to base your meals on them so they make up
one-third of your diet.
-
- But she does not include a warning about the possible
risk of kidney or liver disease for anyone who spends a long time on the
diet, possibly because of lack of reliable research to back such claims.
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- Dr Atkins' Diet Revolution toppled Harry Potter and The
Order of The Phoenix off the number one spot during the summer; it now
stands at six the UK bestseller list, having sold more than half a million
copies in the past year.
-
- Supermarkets report a surge in meat and cheese sales
and a slump in pasta and rice. The price of eggs has risen by 9 per cent,
bringing fears of a shortage because devotees of the diet are using the
food as a way of ensuring their daily fix of protein. Some sandwich bars
are also offering 'Atkins-friendly' meals, such as chicken and salad, to
respond to demand and counteract the fall in sandwich sales, as bread is
on the banned list.
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- A spokeswoman for the Atkins company argued that research
showed it was consumption of large amounts of carbohydrates with a high-glycemic
index, such as white bread, white rice or white potatoes, which increased
the risk of coronary heart disease.
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- 'At all stages of Atkins, we encourage consumption of
nutrient-dense foods including plenty of vegetables, with the introduction
of fruits and wholegrains later in the programme as one approaches ideal
weight,' she added.
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- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2003
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- http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,1046662,00.html
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