Doctors' group urges Atkins diet ban

Washinton Times ^ | August 22, 2003 | UPI

[Cincinatus' Wife]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Nutritionists are urging the top 10 U.S. hospitals to ban the Atkins diet, reports said Friday.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine announced Friday in Washington it hopes the hospitals will emulate England's Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, which is eliminating the controversial diet from its menus, fearing a link to kidney damage.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

When my sister went in for back surgery this summer, the staff was happy to serve her Atkins. They even came up to talk about the Atkins diet and one of the nurses gave her a great cheese cake recipe. Cincinatus and I tried Atkins when we heard about her improved health and we too are Atkins success stories.

[BlackVeil]

Well, it might be made illegal. Of course, with a whole lot of regulation to back that up.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

We can't have a successful diet screwing up the a big fat-tax payday can we?

[SamAdams76]

Down 70 pounds since April. Guess those doctors want to see me go back on a low-fat diet and gain it all back...for my health, don't you know.

[BlackVeil]

No indeed. And giving people a choice about what they eat - telling them that it is their responsibility to make decisions about their diets and the consequences thereof ... Oh no!

Fat taxes are the way to go. Also, thin taxes, and a diet regulation tax, with a panel staffed by "experts."

[Miss Marple]

Well, what are they going to do, send out the Meat Police? Monitor how many vegetables we eat?

Bah! My husband has lost 16 pounds in two weeks, feels great, and is walking 4 miles a day (which he never would have done before starting on the diet...he had NO energy).

I started 3 days ago, have lost 4 pounds, and I feel great as well. A lot of what I'm eating is the same as before except I've left out sweets, bread, pasta and potatoes. I am taking vitamins and am making sure I eat the salads and vegetables recommended.

This is sour grapes, in my opinion.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Cincinatus' doctor was so impressed with his health and weight loss he asked him to give him a rundown of what he was eating on a typical day - and he took notes. The doctor needs to drop about 40 pounds.

[BlackVeil]

And then you could be in hospital - having more flour and sugar food. I am sure it is in the long-term benefit of the health system. How dare you stand in the way?

[netmilsmom]

People are getting thin, improving BP, improving cholesteral and scaring the he!! out of the health industry. Atkins has changed the way we think and these guys are losing money.
I worked for a doctor, he is a saint. Most are. But as with teachers compared to the NEA, the establishment is scared Atkins works.

[Agnes Heep]

Something else to consider with a high-protein diet is the effect on immunity. Countries where protein is a luxury generally suffer more in the way of infectious diseases, particularly HIV, and I'm convinced that protein deprivation is a primary factor. We suffer less from this kind of thing in the West because we can afford to take basic materials like grains and process them through animals to obtain protein-rich foods. There's more to longevity than simply preventing heart disease.

[Timesink]

...fearing a link to kidney damage.

"Fearing," of course, is a code word meaning "We don't actually have any proof that it can cause this. We just hate change."

By the way, I will post my standard disclaimer about the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine:

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a LEFT WING POLITICAL ORGANIZATION, not a medical organization.

Only about 15% of their membership are even doctors. They are strongly aligned with animal-rights activist groups, and THAT is why they are against Atkins: Because Atkins is a heavily protein-based nutritional approach, and that means LOTS OF MEAT.

[Rome2000]

Wheres the low-fat vegetarian food when you need it?

[Rome2000]

From the album biohazard

Only the strong survive.
Living all these days for myself, not you.
Mind your own business, I do what I do.
All of you who like to preach all day,
Now hear what I have to say.
The smell of leather makes me high,
I feel good inside when you cry,
nor remorse is felt when you sigh,
Because skin keeps me warm and dry.
Chorus (2x)
To wear my boots, I'll take a hide
To feed my face, I'll kill with pride
In this world of survival
Those with strength will have no rival
I'll smile at you as I drive down the street
Sitting in my car with plush leather seats
Survival of the fittest and that is the beat
And I eat all of the meat
Don't get me wrong
I come from the streets
I'll tell you now it's strong over weak
You slow--you blow
and you will meet your defeat
Now you will understand
Chorus
You will understand now

[Senator Pardek]

My head is gonna explode.

They don't get it - do they?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Very interesting!! Thanks for the facts.

[07055]

I support any diet that encourages consumption of liberal portions of Taylor Ham and cheesecake.

[bygolly]

Where are the studies indicating kidney damage? I'd like to see the same concern about obesity and diabetes in our society.

On May 16th I was 6' tall, 227 pounds and considered obese. Since May 16th, I've lost 34 pounds following a low carbo/high protein diet, swimming a mile, 3 to 4 times a week, and now lifting weights twice a week. I've lost much of my fat, toned down considerably, and now am adding new lean muscle mass. I have lost my appetite for junk and other sugar laden foods and feel great. My cholesterol has dropped 30 points and...my kidneys are just fine!

I've got about 8 more pounds to drop (unless I can replace it with 8 pounds of lean muscle) and feel very close to my goal.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Something else to consider with a high-protein diet is the effect on immunity.

So is mother's milk, something that's also making a comeback. Formula companies are working overtime sending out samples to expectant mothers.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"Research has clearly shown that high-protein, meat-heavy diets increase the risk of osteoporosis and kidney disorders"

Yeah. Through no scientificly sound research. Probably by .00000001

[templar]

I can't see the criticism of the Atkins diet. There is little that is more debilitating than extreme overweight (more than, say for a large man, 40 pounds or so), and whatever works to lose the weight should be encouraged. But a diet alone will not solve the problem. It's like quitting smoking or drinking. You got to develop a new lifestyle based on being trim and fit (or a non-smoker or a non-drinker) or you will go back to being whatever the lifestyle you live supports (overweight, smoking, drinking, or whatever).

[SamAdams76]

Not only that but these doctors have dug themselves in so deep with that "food pyramid" that they are scared of class-action lawsuits once the general public realizes that their low-fat/high-carb recipe is a national disaster.

For decades, we have been stuffing ourselves with bran muffins, bagels, pasta, breads, cereals, etc., and getting fatter year after year. And they have been preaching against the evils of meats, cheese, and eggs, etc.

It has all been a lie. In fact, I've been eating meat, cheese and eggs every day since April (along with plenty of vegetables, nuts, yogurt and a little fruit) and I've lost 70 pounds. Never in my adult life have I been able to take the weight off with those "low-fat" diets. In fact, the low-carb diet I put myself on has given me the energy to sustain a very vigourous exercise program, which has accelerated the weight loss to a large degree.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

A diet where you aren't hungry. Gracious what will publishing companies do now without the latest fad diet to get out to stores?

[At _War_With_Liberals]

When your in Brooklyn, you best watch your back

-Wrong Side of the Tracks, Biohazard

[I still care]

I was on the Carbohydrate addiction diet for years. Not only did I lose 48 lbs., but for the first time in my life my Triglycerides and my cholesterol tumbled big time.

I couldn't believe it, especially since I was living on whipped cream and cheese, but it did.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yes indeed. And with Atkins it's possible to eat well, maintain a healthy weight and have good blood numbers.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

...but for the first time in my life my Triglycerides and my cholesterol tumbled big time

Bump!!

[Miss Marple]

I am with you. I feel much better (although I had one bad day when the lack of caffeine and the cravings made me a tad grumpy right at the start). But I knew to expect that, and I now feel great!

I tried low-calorie, low fat diets and I couldn't stick with them. On this I am not hungry, and in fact I think I am eating less in calories as well because I don't feel the urge to snack and I am not stuffing myself due to excessive hunger.

[Timesink]

I'm sorry, I made an error. Doctors do not make up 15% of the PCRM's membership; they only make up FIVE percent. I posted the following in another Atkins thread a little over a month ago:

It's really not in your best interests, [name redacted], to post links to wildly left-wing political organizations as "proof" that Atkins doesn't work. Here's what consumerfreedom.org has to say about the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine:

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Who would guess that a fanatical animal rights group could pass itself off as a physicians’ organization concerned with health issues? Judging by its stated positions, PCRM’s goals are to abolish the use of animals as food (including milk, eggs, and other animal products) and to eliminate the use of animals in scientific experiments. The group furthers its mission by continuously misinforming the American public about animal research and providing potentially dangerous dietary recommendations. The American Medical Association has rightly labeled PCRM “an animal rights front organization.”

While PCRM claims to be primarily a network of doctors, the group’s own literature shows that physicians make up only 5% of its membership. Furthermore, the group’s member physicians represent less than 0.5% of America’s doctors. Far from being an unbiased source of health guidance, PCRM has asserted itself as a home for anti-meat, pro-vegan nutritionists who are committed to removing beef, dairy, poultry, and other animal products from our diets for good.

These people are not "nutritionists." They're animal rights activists. And UPI should be ashamed for running this story without bothering to research this organization first. No wonder today's UPI is but a tiny shell of the proud wire service it once was. (Billybob, do you know someone at UPI we can scream at about this pseudo-news pablum?)

When even the AMA - hardly a friend to conservatives - publicly attacks another organization as a bunch of ultra-left-wing lunatics, that's a pretty damning indictment.

[Timesink]

Just out of curiosity, have you guys lost all that weight with or without adding exercise into the mix?

[Timesink]

UPI lies! See post 29 for proof this entire article is a fraud!

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[Rome2000]

Can you dig it?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

.....feel very close to my goal.

Bravo!

[leadhead]

I dropped 30 lbs. in two months on a low carb, low fat diet. Atkins doesn't impress me because of the hi fat. I've hit a plateau for the last two months and haven't lost weight, but I have lost dimensions and everyone remarks that I must be losing weight.

If the low carb diet is to use up fat, why add fat to the diet? Since I've hit the wall, I had to examine what in my diet was still carb heavy. It turns out that the W,F,S,S beers were the only big deal left so I've switched from Bud to Mic Ultra.

This has caused a lot of comments at my local haunts but in a week and a half, I dropped another 5.

5 more and I'll quit smoking and deny the ruling class their tax source.

Healthy and patriotic!

[Paulus Invictus]

But...this guy is extinct! He's a Neanderthal. He ate nothing but meat and died out soon enough.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

As the wheel turns! Charcole steaks? Or Not! Birth control pills or Not! Atkins or Not! Fat free or Not. Fat free for 20 years, fatter than ever! Atkins?

[Rome2000]

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Experts!? Hardly.

[shadeaud]

congrats Sam for the success.

[Servant of the Nine]

Why would the Atkins Diet be any harder on your kidneys than a non diet of the same meats and fats with added carbs?

It is only harder on your kidneys than a theoretical balanced low calorie diet, not harder than what us fatties are already eating.

So9

[Molly Pitcher]

Here ya go...

[SamAdams76]

Before going on the low-carb diet, I was a big coffee drinker. With lots of sugar and cream. Every day, I had to go to Dunkin' Donuts at least once. And of course, I'd usually have a donut or muffin to go with the coffee. I felt that I couldn't function without coffee to start the day and so bad was my "addiction" to coffee that I remember spending Christmas mornings driving around looking for a Dunkin' Donuts that was open!

Well when I went on the low-carb plan, I had no plans on cutting back on my coffee intake (which was about 3-4 cups a day). But it just happened. About six weeks into my plan (mid-May), I just stopped having a desire for it. Still, I went and got it anyway but ended up only drinking half of it or a quarter of it and throwing the rest away. Finally, around the beginning of June, I stopped going altogether and I haven't had a drop of coffee since.

That's not to say that I'll never drink coffee again. But I certainly don't have the desire for it anymore. Not when I get up at 5AM and go for long walks!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I don't know what they're talking about and somehow I very much doubt they do.

Dr. Atkin's diet lists different medications that are not compatible with this diet. But he also lists conditions that, once you've started Atkins, improve.

[Eva]

This is probably the physicians group that is related to PETA, I'm not sure, but it sounds like it. PETA does have their own team that they pay to put out this type of statement.

[SamAdams76]

Well how would you define a "high fat" diet? I think that the disinformation we've had over the past few decades by the mainstream medical establishment has skewed the definition of "high fat."

I don't consider my low-carb diet high-fat at all although many who are on the traditional "low-fat" diet would certainly think so. To them, even a couple of eggs and a piece of steak in a day would be considered "high-fat." In the same manner that a teetotaler might think you an alcoholic for having a couple of beers after work.

[Eva]

Yep, that's the group PCRM is bought and paid for by PETA. CLICK HERE

[dandelion]

Three words: Neil Barnard, Vegan. Neil Barnard, M.D., is the founder of PCRM, friend to the Animal Defense League and science advisor for PETA...

"Meat consumption is just as dangerous to public health as tobacco use. It's time we looked into holding the meat producers and fast-food outlets legally accountable."
-Neil Barnard, PETA science advisor and president of the militant Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

[USMA83]

I have a question for the Adkins folks. I'm 42, 5'10 and 2 years ago weighed 195. I returned to cycling and now weigh 150. Obviously, I put in a lot of miles on the bike each week, but I do so being fueled with a diet that's 60% carb, 25% protein and 15% fat. That's pretty generic for endurance sports. Here's the point...on the Adkins diet, can you sustain a vigorous exercise regime? Does the lack of carbs restrict your glygogen production/stores?