Low-carbohydrate diets, such as Atkins and South Beach, may be effective methods of weight loss. However, many experts feel that these diets have significant health risks associated with them. The South Beach Diet denies that it is a low-carbohydrate diet, yet the Mayo Clinic website shows that it does significantly limit carbohydrates. Speak to your physician to determine the weight loss plan that is right for you.
Weight Loss
Low-carbohydrate diets are effective methods for losing weight, according to a 2008 study in the New England Journal of Medicine. In this two-year study, the participants following a low-carbohydrate diet lost more weight, lowered their triglyceride levels further and had a higher increase in HDL, or good, cholesterol than participants on a low-fat diet.
Exercise
The South Beach Diet and Atkins Diet do not include exercise as part of their weight-loss plans, according to the Mayo Clinic. They recommend exercise, but focus on diet without any guidelines for exercise. Weight-loss plans that only include dietary changes generally fail, leading to participants regaining the weight, according to the American Council on Exercise. Also, dietary changes without exercise lend themselves to weight loss but not a general improvement in health.
Health Risks
Many experts feel that low-carbohydrate diets may have health risks. A 2007 study by the University of Maryland Medical Center researched the Atkins and South Beach diets for their potential health risks. The article highlighted the Atkins Diet for its negative effects on health, with fat as half of the diet.The Atkins Diet quickly created higher levels of LDL, or "bad," cholesterol, problems in blood vessels and artery swelling in study participants. Although the South Beach Diet is composed of one-third fat, it was not found to be as unhealthy as the Atkins Diet, and artery swelling was reduced in some participants. Limiting carbohydrate intake to the amounts suggested on these diets could lead to ketoacidosis, a condition where your body creates an excess of acid and ketones, according to the Mayo Clinic. Long-term research is needed on these diets, and many health experts believe the high levels of fats and protein consumed will lead to cancer and heart disease in the long-term.
References
- Mayo Clinic: South Beach Diet
- The New England Journal of Medicine: Weight Loss with a Low-Carbohydrate, Mediterranean, or Low-Fat Diet
- Mayo Clinic: Atkins Diet, What's Behind the Claims?
- American Council on Exercise: Diet vs. Exercise.
- University of Maryland Medical Center: University of Maryland Study Compares Three Popular Diets for Risk of Cardiovascular Problems
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