heath issues so prevalent in American society. For the
past decade, high fat/low carb diets have gained pop-
ularity, and millions of books about these diets con-
tinue to sell. Recently there has been more research to
investigate the health benefits and weight loss claims
of high fat/low carb diet plans.Research
In 2007, theJournal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA)published the results of a Stan-
ford University study comparing the Adkins diet with
the Zone, LEARN, and Ornish diets. The study fol-
lowed 311 over-weight women for a period of two
years and eight months. The women were randomly
assigned to one of the four diet plans. At the end of 12
months, participants who followed the high fat/low
carb diet (Atkins) had lost the most amount of weight
and had either comparable or better screenings for
cholesterol, glucose and insulin, and blood pressure.
In 2004 researchers compared the effects of low
carbohydrate diet andlow fat dieton over weight
individuals with high cholesterol. 120 over weight
individuals with high cholesterol were randomly
assigned to either a low carb diet or a low fat/calorie
restricted diet. Both groups were given exercise recom-
mendations, and the low carb group was also given
supplements. At the end of 24 weeks the low carb
group had lost more weight and had a greater reduc-
tion in cholesterol levels than the low fat/ low calorie
group. Additionally, fewer participants dropped out
of the low carb group than dropped out of the low fat/
low calorie group.
Doctors Atkins and Eades who have published
books about high fat/low card diets have many case
histories of patients they have treated in their individ-
ual practices who have experienced significant weight
loss and improvement of medical conditions such as
diabetes, high cholesterol, and coronary artery
disease.
As far back as 1863, published reports support the
efficacy and benefits of a high fat/low carb diet.
Anthropologists have examined the remains of many
cultures that ate diets consisting almost exclusively of
meat and water with few if any carbohydrates. These
cultures such as the Inuit of the Artic, Pacific Island
tribes, and African tribes such as the Maasai, had
virtually no incidence of obesity, heart disease, can-
cers, and other diseases that plague our society today.
However, when these groups begin to eat a diet similar
to diets in the United States, they develop the same
obesity related illnesses prevalent in modern Western
culture.Resources
BOOKS
Allan, Christian and Wolfgang Lutz, MD.Life Without
Bread: How a Low-Carbohydrate Diet Can Save Your
Life. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2000.
Atkins, Robert, MD.Atkins New Diet Revolution. New
York, NY: Avon Books, 1992.
Audette, Ray.Neanderthin: Eat like a caveman to achieve a
lean, strong, healthy body. New York, NY: St. Martin’s
Press, 1999.
Eades, Michael, MD and Mary Eades, MD.Protein Power.
New York, Hew York: Bantom Books, 1996.
Eades, Michael, MD and Mary Eades, MD.The 30-Day
Low-Carb Solution. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons,
Inc, 2003.
Groves, Barry, MD.Eat Fat Get Thin!London: Vermillion,
2000.
Heller, Rachael, MD and Richard Heller, MD.The Carbo-
hydrate Addict’s Diet: The Lifelong Solution to Yo–Yo
Dieting. New York, NY: Signet, 1993.
Ross, Julia, MD.The Diet Cure: the 8–step program to
rebalance your body chemistry and end food cravings,
weight problems, and mood swings–now. New York, NY:
Viking Penguin, 1999.
Schwarzbein, Diana, MD and Nancy Deville.The Schwarz-
bein principle: the truth about losing weight, being
healthy and feeling younger. Deerfield Beach, FL:
Health Communications, Inc., 1999.
Voegtlin, Walter, MD.The Stone Age Diet. New York, NY:
Vantage Press, 1975.
PERIODICALS
Ames, B. N., ‘‘Paleolithic Diet, Evolution, and Carcino-
gens.’’Science238 (1987): 1633–4.
Banting, W. ‘‘Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Pub-
lic.’’Obesity Research1, no. 2 (March 1993): 153–63.
(Reprinted from the December 1863 third edition).
Borkman, M., et al, ‘‘Comparison of the Effects on Insulin
Sensitivity of High Carbohydrate and High Fat Diets in
Normal Subjects.’’J Clin Endocrinol and Metab72, no.
2 (1991): 432–7.
Bower, B., ‘‘The Two-Million-Year-Old Meat and Marrow
Diet Resurfaces.’’Science News(Jan 3, 1987): 7.
Chen, T. S., W. Smith, J. L. Rosenstock, and K. D. Lessnau
‘‘A Life-Threatening Complication of Atkins Diet.’’
Lancet367 (2006): 958.
Dansinger, M. L., J. A. Gleason, J. L. Griffith, H. P. Selker,
and E. J. Schaefer. ‘‘Comparison of the Atkins, Ornish,
Weight Watchers, and Zone Diets for Weight Loss and
Heart Disease Risk Reduction: A Randomized Trial.’’
JAMA293 (Jan 2005): 43–53.
DeFronzo, R. A. and E. Ferrannini, ‘‘Insulin Resistance: A
Multifaceted Syndrome Responsible for NIDDM,
Obesity, Hypertension, Dylipidemia, and Atheroscler-
otic Cardiovascular Disease.’’Diabetes Care14, no. 3
(March 1991): 173–94.High-fat/low-carb diets