Found this article today...

Facts About Dr. Atkins Diet Calorie Intake.

by Tanya Zilberter, PhD


Dr. Atkins states that when carbohydrates are restricted, calories don't matter: dieters don't have to watch how much they eat as long as they don't cheat and stick to the allowed foods. Most of the dieters agree that from the practical standpoint, it's true: they can eat all they want BUT! They want less. Who's right? Here's an important part of the answer.

Study by:

Bassett Research Institute in Cooperstown, NY and Durham (N.C.) Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Who participated:

18 obese men and women with 30 or more pounds to lose.

Average calorie intake before the study: 2,481 calories a day

Method:

Dr. Atkins' Book, the "New Diet Revolution" used as instruction for the dieters.

Results:

1. Calorie intake during the most restrictive induction phase, when only 20 g of carbohydrate were allowed, was 1,419 calories a day on average and lost more than 8 pounds on average.

2. Calorie intake during the ongoing weight-loss phase, when carbohydrate intake is being increased gradually, by 5 g a day, dieters ate an average of 1,500 calories a day and lost an additional 3 pounds in two weeks.

3. The calorie reduction was attributed almost completely to carbohydrate abstaining. Intake of fat and protein remained practically the same as before the diet.

4. After 6 months on Atkins diet, 41 overweight people lost average of 10% of their weight. Most dieters lowered their cholesterol by 5%, but there were a few whose cholesterol increased.

5. 20 out of 41 dieters continued the program, and kept the lost weight off for more than a year.