The commercial weight-loss method known as the Atkins diet has gained popularity as a way to lose weight while still enjoying fatty food, though this weight-loss regimen isn't without controversy. Reports of depression linked to the Atkins diet --- or what Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Judith Wurtman calls the "Atkins attitude" --- have caused some to re-evaluate this popular diet program. Consult your doctor before beginning any new diet.
About the Atkins Diet
Developed in 1972 by cardiologist Robert C. Atkins, the Atkins diet, also called the Atkins Nutritional Approach, restricts carbohydrates and emphasizes protein and fats. Atkins claims that consuming excessive carbohydrates such as sugar and white flour increases your insulin levels. This, he explains, leads to weight gain and blood sugar imbalances. The Atkins diet uses an approach called "controlled carbohydrate weight loss," where dieters consume minimal carbohydrates to burn off excess fat. The safety and effectiveness of the Atkins diet has been debated and criticized by some health professionals, the Mayo Clinic notes.
Clinical Studies
A study on the Atkins diet and depression conducted by Wurtman, the director of MIT's Women's Health Program, found that people on a low-carb, protein-rich diet are more prone to depression and mood swings than those on high-carb, low-protein diets. The reason, Wurtman told "Psychology Today" magazine in 2004, has to do with the mood-stabilizing hormone serotonin, which carbohydrates help produce. Cutting carbohydrates out of your diet means your brain produces less serotonin, and Wurtman warns that this could cause some to become "emotional zombies." Because some people's brains rely so heavily on carbohydrates as mood stabilizers, cutting them from the diet amounts to "taking water away from someone hiking in the desert," Wurtman advises.
Warning
The Atkins diet may pose an increased danger to those already prone to depression or with a history of bipolar disorder, warns Wurtman. Increased feelings of depression can, over time, lead to anger and rage as well. "People feel very angry, and their antidepressants don't work well, either," says Wurtman.
A low-carb diet may also affect the body's thyroid gland, Dr. Cecilia Tregear, who studies the effects of diets and hormone levels, told the "Daily Mail" newspaper. The thyroid gland relies on carbohydrates to stay activated, and Tregear notes that slow thyroid functioning can also cause depression. "In my experience," she says, "people on the Atkins diet are prone to mood swings, anxiety and erratic behavior. Sugar is the main food for the brain and without it, the brain struggles."
Opposing Viewpoints
Dr. Stuart Trager, chairman of the Atkins Physician Council disputes the assertion that the diet may cause depression. "Mood and energy levels are related to many factors," Trager told the "Daily Mail." "Additionally, it is important to remember that serotonin is made within the body from ingested protein, rather than carbohydrates."
Dr. Frederick Samaha, chief of cardiology at Philadelphia's Veterans Administration Hospital, calls the link between Atkins and depression "a very hard effect to sort out." Samaha's studies have found no discernible difference in mood between dieters on low-carbohydrate diets versus low-fat diets. Generally, Samaha told "Psychology Today," dieters feel better emotionally when they lose weight and become healthier.
Suggestions
The Mayo Clinic suggests that you consult a doctor before beginning any new diet to make sure it's appropriate and safe for you. Robert Thayer, author of "Calm Energy: How People Use Food and Exercise to Regulate Mood," also suggests closely monitoring your mood once you begin the Atkins diet. Make sure you have enough mental and physical energy to meet the day's demands, and pay attention to changes in your mood as you progress through the diet.
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