Published Wednesday, February 4, 2004

Dietitian doesn't like recent fad

By Teresa Hoffman, teresa.hoffman~ralstonrecorder.com

http://www.ralstonrecorder.com/inde...78&u_sid=995989

It's hard for Linda Wilhelm to find anything good to say about the Atkins Diet craze.

The registered dietitian for Alegent Health Midlands Hospital understands that people are trying to find any way they can to lose weight, but she just doesn't think reducing carbohydrates is the way to go.

She will say one good thing, however, and that is that she likes that people are at least thinking about their weight.

But she doesn't like the out-of-balance method of diets, such as Atkins or South Beach.

"It's good to have variety," she said. "All of the nutrients we get have a role to play."

In fact, she said carbohydrates have a big role to play. "Fifty percent of our calories should come from carbs," she said.

She also said carbohydrates give a person energy.

Even with less carbohydrates, Atkins supporters say their plan does provide energy.

The cornerstone of Atkins, according to the Web site, www.atkins.com, is using a four-phase eating plan in conjunction with vitamin and mineral supplements and regular exercise.

"The Atkins Nutritional approach rebalances your nutrition so that you improve your energy level," according to the Web site. "Following this approach lays the groundwork for a lifetime of better health."

The Web site said the four-phase eating plan allows a person to select which foods to eat based on their need to achieve weight loss and weight maintenance.

The induction phase of the plan restricts carbohydrate consumption to 20 grams each day. Most of the carbohydrates come from a salad and other non-starchy vegetables, according to the Web site. The final phase is maintaining the weight loss by controlling carbohydrates. Each phase allows more carbohydrates in a person's diet.

While Atkins supporters say the plan is not a diet, rather a lifetime nutritional philosophy, Wilhelm said eating healthy doesn't have to mean taking out things, such as milk and breads.

In fact, she said she has read many reports, including one from Tufts University, that said the diet is depriving people of calcium, fiber and other nutrients.

The report said that the induction period contains only 16 percent of the daily value for fiber and less than two-thirds for nutrients, such as calcium, Vitamins C, D and E and iron.

That fact is just one many things Wilhelm tries to tell people about when she talks about eating healthy. She said the keys to losing weight and keeping it off are portion sizes and exercise.

"There really are no good foods or bad foods," she said. "But eating too much of one thing can be bad."

Wilhelm said she doesn't like the sizes of meals served in restaurants today. She especially doesn't like the "super sizes" pushed by fast food restaurants.

"The regular portions are too large," she said. "Then people are super-sizing those."

By watching portion sizes and exercising, Wilhelm said, a person's metabolism will be enhanced.

"As we get older, our metabolism slows," she said.

Taking time to work out also is key to staying healthy, Wilhelm said.

"Exercise is just as important as the diet." she said.

While she said fad diets have come and gone, there are some programs, such as Weight Watchers, that can work not only because they control portion sizes, but also because of the group setting associated with meetings that are part of the program.

"Having that small group support can be very helpful to some people," she said.

Besides not having balance, Wilhelm said, she doesn't like the Atkins and other diets because they are boring.

She said being on a boring diet can often lead to failed weight loss attempts.

"You need to pick a diet you want to live with so you can maintain positive effects," she said.

Being deprived of certain foods can also lead to failure.

"I don't think anybody who doesn't have any restrictions because of health should feel that any food is forbidden," she said.

Another downfall of the recent diet fads, Wilhelm said, is maintaining the weight loss. She said it is important to look at the whole picture.

"Anybody can lose weight," she said. "It is maintaining it that is hard."

She said the popularity of diets, such as Atkins and South Beach is based on quick weight loss.

"We are a microwave society and we need to be a crock pot society," she said.

With the endless amount of diet plans out there, Wilhelm said, there is one in place that can help people and has for many years - the food pyramid.

"It really is the best way to make sure you are getting the nutrition you need," she said.

One last tip Wilhelm gives people is to eat slowly.

"Take your time and give your food a chance to digest and tell your stomach it is full," she said.