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New study tosses Atkins, pushes high-carb foods

Written by By Sarrah Benoit -Argonaut

Friday, 13 January 2006

Say goodbye to Atkins and hello to bread. According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, eating foods high in carbohydrates and low in fat can promote weight loss without exercise. The study consisted of 34 overweight adults. One group ate the recommended diet for three months while another incorporated exercise into the diet. The third group, or the control group, did not alter its eating habits. “Calories in, minus calories out, does not always determine the amount of weight loss,” said William Evans, lead author of the study and director of the Nutrition, Metabolism and Exercise Laboratory at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The participants in the study were instructed to eat as much as they wanted. They returned any uneaten food to the researchers, who would then calculate each person’s calorie intake. Participants on the recommended diet lost an average of seven pounds without cutting calories and without exercise. When group two added riding a stationary bike four times a week, the average weight loss was 11 pounds. The control group did not gain or lose weight. “It is pretty difficult to lose weight without exercise,” said Virginia Beck, UI nutrition counselor. “It really depends on the calorie content of the foods you eat. If you choose high-carb foods like sweets, you will gain weight. Carbs loaded in fiber are better.” Beck said she recommends that 50 to 55 percent of a college student’s diet consist of carbohydrates. Athletes like marathon runners usually need 60 to 65 percent of their diet to be carbohydrates. “I think eating a high-carb diet is fine, but I’m an athlete,” freshman Irvin Stevens said. “If you aren’t (an athlete), you’re probably going to get fat.” Foods on the successful high-carbohydrate and low-fat diet included high-fiber cereal, vegetarian chili, whole-wheat spaghetti, fruits, vegetables and milk. The total amount of calories per day was about 2,400. “High-carb diets aren’t really bad,” Beck said. “I would just encourage students to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diets. And they should always eat three meals a day.” Gary Foster, clinical director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Weight and Eating Disorders Program, said the idea that a person could lose weight without reducing carbohydrate intake flies in the face of 100 years of data. High-carbohydrate diets will not work for everyone, he said. It depends on how a person’s body can regulate and break down glucose. Cindy Moore, an American Dietetic Association spokeswoman, said high-carb diets are a reminder that people can lose weight in a variety of different ways. She said low-carb diets are hogging the spotlight. “Low-carb diets like Atkins are not healthy,” Beck said. “Carbs are energy and they promote brain work. Glucose fuels the body. Low-carb diets rob from the muscle in your body.” Stevens said it would be easier to follow a high-carb rather than a low-carb diet. “I usually eat a lot of pasta, potatoes and breads,” he said. “I don’t think Atkins is too healthy. Look at Atkins. Was he healthy eating all that meat? And is he still alive? No.” Beck said a diet, whether it is high-carb or low-carb, should never be attempted for a short-term weight loss fix. “A diet describes how a person eats,” she said. “Adapt a healthy eating pattern and find an exercise plan.” Add as favorites (112) | Views: 3766 Be first to comment this article Write Comment Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed. Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button. Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code. Name: Title: Comment: