Atkins Diet Plan -- Are Low Carb Diets Doomed?

According to Veronica Atkins, the widow of Dr. Robert Atkins, the cause of his death was from falling on a slippery sidewalk with subsequent irreversible brain damage (from a CNN interview, February, 2004). Many critics of the Atkins Diet Plan claim the fall was due to a heart attack. This has not been verified to date.

He was 72 years old.

With all due respect to Veronica Atkins, I would like to assume Dr. Atkins did in fact suffer a fatal heart attack. This is in order to answer the following questions...

  • Is it right to use his death as evidence against the safety of the Atkins Diet Plan and other low Carb diets?

  • Does the recent bankruptcy of the Atkins Corporation provide evidence for the ineffectiveness of low Carb diets?

  • Many critics of low Carb diets say yes to both questions, but are they right?
  • The Atkins Diet Plan & Cardiovascular Risk

    Medically speaking, it is incorrect to associate Dr. Atkins' fatal heart attack to the use of his low Carb diet. There are two reasons for coming to this conclusion.

  • The increased risk for cardiovascular events associated with Atkins Diet Plan are not from restricting carbohydrates. Instead, the higher risk of cardiovascular events comes from replacing carbohydrates with foods high in saturated fats.

  • Dr. Atkins died at the age of 72. Beyond the age of 72, the risk for a cardiovascular event is the same for everyone. Granted, he was diagnosed with a cardiomyopathy (diseased heart muscle) when he was 69 and he suffered a heart attack in early 2004.

    However, both events occurred well above the age of 55...the cut off used for men to assign an increased risk for cardiovascular events to their first degree relatives. He was at an age which allows for the exclusion of any significant cardiovascular risk passing to his children.

  • From an epidemiology view point, risk behaviors like smoking or eating a high fat diet are no longer considered as primary contributors in Dr. Atkins' death.

    Yes, eating a high fat diet may have played a role, but this is only speculation. Because Dr. Atkins was 72 at the time of his death, no risk for similar events is passed onto his first degree relatives and the risk for cardiovascular events is the same for everyone at that age.

    With all due respect, he died of old age. To blame the Atkins Diet Plan and low Carb diets in general is medically irresponsible. At 72 years old, there are several factors to consider when faced with a fatal heart attack, including the aging process itself.

    Veronica Atkins was quoted by CNN...

    "My husbands health at the time of his death is a sad and distracting sideshow, taking time away from an intelligent debate of the known science."

    For a more detailed discussion on cardiovascular risk and age, please visit...

    www.medscape.com

    Low Carb Bankruptcy -- Evidence for its Ineffectiveness?

    The only correct way to measure a diet's effectiveness (or lack there of) is to study the evidence provided by clinical trials. Recently, a few good studies have reported on the effectiveness of the Atkins Diet Plan and other low Carb diets.

    In short, low Carb diets, measured at one year, are safe and effective in helping dieters lose weight.

    Like all diet types, the evidence for long term effectiveness (2 to 5 years) is sparse and inconsistent.

    Cardiovascular risk increases for some dieters on low Carb diets, not because of the carbohydrate restriction, but because of the consumption of foods high in fat. Also, sticking with the low Carb diet appears to be tough for most dieters beyond one year.

    And lastly, low Carb diets that promote long stages of measurable ketosis may cause rapid weight loss that is too extreme. This is a great way to guarantee weight regain in the near future.

    Conclusion

    Atkins death, from whatever the cause, can not be associated with his diet because he was 72 years old at the time of his death. Even if Dr. Atkins' death could be associated with his diet, no correlations could be made to similar low Carb diets, too much variation exists between them.

    Bankruptcy does not belong in a scientific discussion of a diet's effectiveness.

    To Healthy Living!

    Michael A. Smith, MD
    Chief Medical Consultant
    Diet Basics Web Site

    Dr. Smith is the Chief Medical Consultant for Diet Basics, a content rich weight loss website dedicated to all dieters. Please visit his site at...

    www.medscape.com

    cheap limo service Lombard .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
    In The News:

    Recent reports show many common passwords can be cracked in literally seconds. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how to strengthen your passwords.
    Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    Iron, a robot that stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 154 pounds, combines advanced artificial intelligence with human-like movement and exceptional vision.
    Hertz, the rental car giant, recently confirmed that customer information was exposed through a cyberattack on one of its software vendors.
    There are a number of features with AirPods you may or may not know about to take your listening experience to the next level. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.
    These 35 Chrome extensions have privacy and security concerns. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says to delete them now.
    Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says 329,000 mph fusion rocket promises to be fast, disruptive and enable deep-space missions.
    Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a new autonomous AI is a game changer that also raises privacy risks. Is your data safe?
    Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says robots and drones are revolutionizing fruit farming with faster picking and smarter handling.
    Landmark Admin revises May 2024 cyberattack scope to show twice as many people were affected. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives tips to help stay safe from an insurance data breach.
    Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how Yamaha’s hydrogen outboard motor could revolutionize boating with zero emissions.
    Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to memorialize or remove a deceased loved one’s Facebook account and protect their digital legacy from misuse or scams.
    Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says an Apple Watch saved psychiatrist Amanda Faulkner by detecting deadly leukemia early.
    Scammers and fraudsters are increasingly targeting the most vulnerable, especially nursing homes and the personal data of their residents. Kurt the CyberGuy has safety tips.
    Infected USB flash drives can spread malware among multiple organizations in ways that can easily bypass traditional security systems.
    With a fully automated warehouse system and AI-powered robots, Ocado's Hive picks, packs and delivers grocery store orders in just a few minutes.
    Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    Recycling robots are using artificial intelligence to learn how to sort recyclables by recognizing patterns in colors, textures, shapes and logos.
    The Reachy 2 robot is designed to be friendly and approachable, inviting natural interaction and is perfect for research, education and experimenting with embodied AI.
    Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson shares several easy ways to keep your credit cards safe from digital thieves while you're traveling this summer.
    Arcturus sets up cameras around the edges of baseball stadiums to capture real-time action and generate a 3D digital clone of the game.
    Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    The CyberGuy explains why healthcare organizations are vulnerable to hackers after there have been a half dozen data breaches this year.
    Developed at two California universities, the innovative technology combines brain-computer interfaces with advanced AI to decode neural activity into audible speech.

    Conquer Those Carbohydrate Cravings

    Are you a hopeless carbohydrate addict? Let's conquer these cravings... Read More

    How Do I Begin A Fat Loss Plan?... Let Me Count The Ways!

    Most people are unsure about how to begin a fat... Read More

    Why Should I Lose Weight?

    According to the BMI chart, if you are overweight, you... Read More

    How to Exercise and Lose Weight on a Busy Schedule

    In my fitness consulting business, I get the opportunity to... Read More

    How To Maintain Your Ideal Weight

    The main reasons most people have difficulty maintaining their ideal... Read More

    Its All In The Numbers

    Offer a woman the choice between a dress she likes... Read More

    Want to Succeed on Your Diet, Find a Diet Buddy

    If you're like most people who tried losing weight on... Read More

    Losing Weight is All About Counting Calories/Carbs and Exercising. Or Is It?

    Losing Weight is All About Counting Calories/Carbs and Exercising. Or... Read More

    Fast Weight Loss ? The Importance of Low Body-fat Levels!

    My name is Greg Ryan and I am a high... Read More

    High Protein Diets Can Have a ?Bad? Impact on Your Career

    With all the excitement regarding high protein diets, one area... Read More

    Weight Loss and Water: The Unknown Secret

    Weight Loss and Water: A Way to Make Your Body... Read More

    Child Obesity ? Who is to Blame?

    As we look around at the current generation of children,... Read More

    Water and Weight Loss

    Water is useful when we are trying for losing weight.... Read More

    Exercise Resistance! - The Secret Barriers that Prevent Weight Loss

    Getting started on an exercise program is one thing. Staying... Read More

    Hunger Free Eating - How To Eat Less And Not Feel Hungry

    There are many diets, all of which boil down to... Read More

    How I Lost 12 Pounds And Had Fun Doing It!

    You see it all the time; people agonizing over their... Read More

    Good Food/Bad Food Whats Left to Eat?

    We've entered the Twilight Zone when it comes to the... Read More

    Weight Loss: Why Do 98% of People Fail on a Diet and How to Avoid this Easily

    Everybody knows that 98% of dieters fail. But do you... Read More

    Hear What Your Diet Pills Say

    Used a diet pill recently and got depressed because you... Read More

    2 Simple Steps to Effective Weight Loss

    It's agreed that if you raise the amount of calories... Read More

    Quick Weight Loss or Quackery

    Cellulite - Reduce The Appearance --------------------------------- Sallie Elizabeth has always... Read More

    Atkins Diet Plan ? What?s it All About?

    A typical breakfast consists of 3 or 4 strips of... Read More

    7 Diet Tips For Rapid Weight Loss

    1. Quit snacking in between meals. Do not fall for... Read More

    After WLS: How Much Weight Have You Lost?

    I had lost nearly fifty pounds before anyone mentioned my... Read More

    Why Weight Loss Products Dont Work

    Did you know that less than 2% of dieters lose... Read More

    limo O'Hare Glen Ellyn ..