Last Updated: Tuesday, 19 August, 2003, 14:16 GMT 15:16 UK
Hospital bans Atkins diet
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A hospital has banned the controversial Atkins diet from its menu over fears that it is too unhealthy.
The Norfolk and Norwich Hospital has said the high-fat diet is not balanced enough to aid recovery.
The move follows growing requests from patients for the low-carbohydrate diet which has been championed by the likes of stars Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore and Catherine Zeta Jones.
Patients are being told the hospital can no longer cater specifically for the diet and are being told of the importance of a "balanced" diet to help them recover more quickly.
Senior dietician Maria Skerry said on Tuesday: "We have no evidence to support the use of the Atkins Diet in the long term.
"We don't know how safe it is and people who come into hospital are often vulnerable nutritionally.
"They need a well balanced diet to help them recover."
The hospital, just outside Norwich, has noticed an increasing number of people who have been admitted are asking specifically for the diet.
Although it will not stop patients choosing low carbohydrate options from the standard menu, dieticians will not be making special Atkins diet meals for them.
"We have had a few patients who have come in following the Atkins Diet and asked for special meals to be provided for them so they can continue to follow the diet in hospital, but we don't think that's the right option for a patient while they are in hospital," said Ms Skerry.
"You can understand why people are wanting to try it but we don't know what the long term affects are," she said.
"We see far more people who need to increase their calorie and nutritional intake to help them make a better recovery."
Health experts fear the diet can not only cause bad breath but could lead to kidney damage and loss of bone density in the long term.
People following the diet are encouraged to eat lots of protein like eggs and bacon and to keep clear of sugar and carbohydrates such as pasta, rice and fruit and vegetables.