Dr. Robert Atkins helped revolutionize the dieting world with the
introduction of his low-carb diet to the public. Flushed with the
results of his own weight loss success, Atkins began recommending a
high-fat diet to his overweight clients, with great results. Yet, the
diet proved much harder to sell to the public in the wake of the low-fat
craze. After years of clinical studies and the flood of new success
stories, the Atkins diet finally made it to mainstream nutrition in the
early 2000s.
The Atkins Diet was inspired by the research of Dr.
Alfred Pennington in the 1950s, who recommended removing sugary foods
from meals. Subsequent research over the next few decades was severely
limited due to the government-backed push for low-fat diets. A 1965
study at the Naval Hospital Oakland found that patients who ate a
1,000-calories-per-day diet, high in fat, lost more body fat than did
patients who fasted completely. In the 1980s, an 8-week study discovered
that a high-protein, low carbohydrate diet resulted in substantial
weight loss, but concerns were raised over blood cholesterol levels.
Additional clinical trials in the 1990s also confirmed the weight-loss
aspect of the diet, but by this point, fears that the diet would
increase the risk of cardiovascular disease were mounting.
Despite being a proven weight-loss diet, critics of Atkins claimed that the high consumption of animal products would increase blood cholesterol levels, which would increase the chances of cardiovascular diseases. Further research has shown that the relationship between total cholesterol level and the occurrence of heart disease is very weak. In fact, a Swedish study found that women who eat high-fat/high-protein diets actually have a reduced risk of coronary heart disease compared to women eating high-carb diets. A 2007 study by Stanford University Medical School found that the Atkins Diet performs better at weight loss, blood pressure, and HDL levels for obese women than does the Zone, Ornish, and other diets. A 2012 study by Boston Children's Hospital found that the Atkins Diet increased the resting metabolic energy expenditure of patients. Other recent studies have also confirmed the ability of the Atkins Nutritional Approach to help dieters lose weight and improve their health.
The Atkins Diet gained widespread popularity in the early 2000s. At the height of the popularity in 2003, 9% of North American adults were on the diet. In spite of the widespread success, the following fell sharply after Atkins' death in 2003. Unsubstantiated rumors that Atkins had died from side effects of his own nutritional plans initiated a steep drop in sales of Atkins nutrition products. In 2005, the Atkins Nutritional Company filed for bankruptcy, and today, only a fraction of the former participants engage in the Atkins diet. Nevertheless, the Atkins Diet helped progress our understanding of nutritional science and continues to improve the lives of dieters around the world.
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Despite being a proven weight-loss diet, critics of Atkins claimed that the high consumption of animal products would increase blood cholesterol levels, which would increase the chances of cardiovascular diseases. Further research has shown that the relationship between total cholesterol level and the occurrence of heart disease is very weak. In fact, a Swedish study found that women who eat high-fat/high-protein diets actually have a reduced risk of coronary heart disease compared to women eating high-carb diets. A 2007 study by Stanford University Medical School found that the Atkins Diet performs better at weight loss, blood pressure, and HDL levels for obese women than does the Zone, Ornish, and other diets. A 2012 study by Boston Children's Hospital found that the Atkins Diet increased the resting metabolic energy expenditure of patients. Other recent studies have also confirmed the ability of the Atkins Nutritional Approach to help dieters lose weight and improve their health.
The Atkins Diet gained widespread popularity in the early 2000s. At the height of the popularity in 2003, 9% of North American adults were on the diet. In spite of the widespread success, the following fell sharply after Atkins' death in 2003. Unsubstantiated rumors that Atkins had died from side effects of his own nutritional plans initiated a steep drop in sales of Atkins nutrition products. In 2005, the Atkins Nutritional Company filed for bankruptcy, and today, only a fraction of the former participants engage in the Atkins diet. Nevertheless, the Atkins Diet helped progress our understanding of nutritional science and continues to improve the lives of dieters around the world.