What science says about Atkins Diet / Low Carbs Diet For Weight Loss

It’s important to note that there’s a lot of conflicting reports and research about Atkins diet for weight loss.

On one hand, some studies report that carbohydrates should be avoided because they contribute to weight gain and have many other negative health effects. Accordingly, a high fat and protein diet is the best option for weight loss. 

However, other studies claim that carbohydrates are beneficial, and an important part of the diet since they include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber. Carbohydrates are not necessarily the cause of weight gain and it mainly depends on the type and amount of carbohydrates consumed. 

Furthermore, opponents of the Atkins diet for weight loss argue that while the Atkins diet can be effective for weight loss, however its effects are not sustained. 

Accordingly, once the individual stops this diet, the weight can be regained in a short period of time. 

In addition, opponents of the Atkins diet for weight loss argue that the diet doesn’t put any restriction on protein and fat, hence this diet incorporates higher levels than the normal recommended amounts.

Subsequently, this high intake of protein and fat can lead to obesity and several other health conditions. 

Furthermore, opponents of the Atkins diet for weight loss don’t believe that individuals lose weight because this diet helps in burning fat. Instead, they argue that this happens because smaller amounts of foods are consumed since most of the food groups are restricted.

They also argue that eliminating an entire food group is not something healthy to follow and should not be recommended, especially given that the long-term effects of this diet are still unknown.

Opinion in favor of following the Atkins diet for weight loss:

Supporters of the Atkins diet believe that this type of diet is effective for weight loss as it forces the body to start burning fats instead of carbohydrates. This metabolic shift is usually difficult to achieve.  

The reason for this is mainly because our modern diet contains high amounts of carbohydrates that are easier to burn and process compared to fat. Accordingly, our bodies will burn the carbs and the fat remains stored, and hence we start gaining more weight.

By restricting carbohydrates, the Atkins diet is believed to force the body to start burning fat for energy to survive because carbohydrates are not available anymore. Accordingly, when the body shifts into this metabolic state, the individual starts losing weight. 

Plus, by reducing carbs, the diet decreases insulin levels in the body. This would lower further the fat storage given that high insulin levels are associated with higher fat storage. 

In addition, there are numerous positive results and so many transformational cases that support these claims, and many are published all over the internet. 

As such, many people who followed the Atkins diet were able to achieve great results and lost lot of weight. 

The founder of the Atkins diet, Dr. Robin Atkins, is a cardiologist who believes that his diet is the optimal solution for weight loss. He attributed the main cause for weight gain to be carbohydrates, and thus recommended restricting them from the food diet. 

Some published studies have also supported the fact that a low-carbohydrate diet like the Atkins diet has beneficial effects on weight loss.

For instance, a one-year study titled” A Randomized Trial of a Low-Carbohydrate diet For Obesity” published in The New England journal of medicine that compared a low-carb diet to a low-fat diet in obese men and women showed that the low-carb diet resulted in a more significant weight loss and it was associated with a decrease in some risk factors associated with heart diseases.

Opinion against following the Atkins diet for weight loss:

Many medical and healthcare experts are against the Atkins diet for weight loss as they do not believe in the theory that a low-carbohydrate diet is good for losing weight.

Accordingly, the opponents of the Atkins diet believe that a low carb diet is not beneficial for reducing weight, especially on the long term. They argue that it is a fad diet that cannot be sustained and that individuals will put back the weight, normally within less than a year.

A Professor of Medicine and Clinical Nutrition at the University Kentucky School of Medicine quoted that “People lose weight, at least in the short term. But this is absolutely the worst diet you could imagine for long-term obesity, heart disease and some forms of cancer. If you want to find one diet to ruin your health, you couldn’t find one worse than Atkins.” 

In addition, opponents of the Atkins diet for weight loss argue that the diet doesn’t put any restriction on protein and fat, hence this diet incorporates higher levels than the normal recommended amounts.

Subsequently, this high intake of protein and fat can lead to obesity and several other health conditions. 

Furthermore, opponents of the Atkins diet for weight loss don’t believe that individuals lose weight because this diet helps in burning fat. Instead, they argue that this happens because smaller amounts of foods are consumed since most of the food groups are restricted.

They also argue that eliminating an entire food group is not something healthy to follow and should not be recommended, especially given that the long-term effects of this diet are still unknown.