The Atkins Nutritional Approach is essentially a low-carbohydrate diet studied by several prestigious medical and educational institutions worldwide, with mixed reviews. The Atkins plan is a four-phase approach: the "Induction" phase, the "Ongoing Weight Loss" or OWL phase, the "Pre-Maintenance" phase and the "Maintenance" phase. The Atkins Nutritional Approach involves a process of learning what to eat and in what amounts.
History
Robert Atkins, the founder of the Atkins Nutritional Approach, born in 1930, was a native of Columbus, Ohio. A 1955 graduate of Cornell University Medical School, he completed his residencies at Rochester and Columbia University Hospitals. Atkins, a cardiologist, started his own practice in New York City in 1960. After much research, Atkins developed his own approach to dieting and published his findings in his first book, "Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution." This and subsequent books sold over 10 million copies. Despite the naysayers, Atkins continued to research a nutritional approach emphasizing a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet to overcome the harmful effects of obesity and heart disease. As more and more people realized the merits of his low-carbohydrate approach, the medical community began to take notice, and Dr. Atkins won numerous awards throughout his lifetime for his efforts.
Popularity
According to the Atkins website, one in 11 American adults was on the Atkins diet in 2003 and 2004. As a result, major companies decided to jump on the low-carbohydrate band wagon by selling low-carb foods, sweeteners, cereals, packaged dinners and snacks. According to an article in "Fortune Magazine," as the plan picked up momentum, so did the research. Several of the studies were commissioned by Atkins competitors, as well as a curious medical community, primarily to prove the plan dangerous, ineffective or misleading. The actual results were mixed. Dr. Atkins was not fazed, and continued educating the world about the benefits of his nutritional approach. According to his co-author and close friend, Fran Gare, "The support was astounding, in spite of the negative publicity."
Features
The Atkins Nutritional Approach is about losing weight and changing how you eat forever; it's not a quick fix to lose 10 lbs. today only to gain it back tomorrow. The diet plan encourages a healthy balance of lean protein, certain vegetables and fruits, good fats and cutting out refined sugars, trans fats and refined carbohydrates. This controlled carbohydrate approach is healthier---it's difficult to argue when the approach touts losing the junk food and eating what is whole, fresh and nutrient-rich.
Myths
The number one myth about the Atkins diet is that carbohydrates are banned from your diet plan. The Atkins plan emphasizes lowering your carbohydrate intake, not abolishing them completely. In the induction phase of the Atkins plan, a maximum of 20 g net carbs are eaten daily, with 12 g of those carbs from allowable vegetables. As you move from the induction phase to the "ongoing weight loss" or OWL phase, you gradually add carbs back into your diet until you reach your carbohydrate tolerance level, which is the balance between carb intake and weight loss. Based on your weight loss and weight management plan, carbohydrates will always remain a standard part of your diet; the amount is what changes.
New Business Model
After the death of Robert Atkins on April 17, 2003 from a head injury suffered in a fall, Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. began to slowly lose support, attributable to another myth that Atkins died of a heart attack. He did suffer from cardiomyopathy, but it was directly related to a persistent viral infection and did not contribute to his death. According to CNN Money, Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. went bankrupt in July 2005 with losses of $340 million. However, in January 2006, the company came back stronger than ever with a new business strategy focusing on pre-packaged, low-carbohydrate, high-protein foods. These foods still remain true to the "net-carbs" philosophy of the original Atkins Nutritional Approach.
Member Comments