The Atkins Diet: Is There Beef?

AADE Program Session
Thursday, August 12, 2004
2:00-13:00 pm

Reviewed by Joelle Escoffery, PhD

This session addressed the efficacy of the Atkins diet as a treatment for obesity. Currently, 63% of the US population is considered overweight or obese. Further, the prevalence of obesity has been increasing over the past 3 decades. Obesity is associated with a number of chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, some types of cancers, and sleep apnea. Currently estimates indicate that approximately 65% of obese people are trying to lose weight. Given the recent popularity of the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet, it is important to understand the efficacy and safety of this approach.

The Atkins diet promotes a severe restriction of carbohydrates (approximately <10% of caloric intake) in order to limit elevations of plasma insulin and induce a state of ketosis. Research has shown that the Atkins diet has been associated with short-term decreases in weight, increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and decreases in triglycerides, but the mechanisms of action driving these effects are unclear. The Atkins diet has been associated with a decrease in caloric intake, so it is not known whether the beneficial effects are due to the diet composition or caloric restriction. There are a variety of different potential mechanisms for the effect of the Atkins diet on weight loss, including ketosis, increased satiety, decreased food variety, and greater ease of short-term adherence compared with a traditional low fat, low calorie diet. One major concern regarding this approach is its potential effect on kidney function, particularly among people who are at risk for renal disease. Further, the Adkins diet meets the criteria of a fad diet, as it promotes rapid weight loss, places severe restrictions on what can be eaten, requires the use of vitamin supplements, and is billed as a cure-all.  

Future research needs to address the mechanisms by which the Atkins diet exerts its effects, including whether or not ketosis is necessary for weight loss. Additionally, the relative amount of carbohydrate reduction that is safe for healthy people and for people with diabetes is not known.  Finally, the longer term effects, both positive and negative, are still not known.