Diets come and diets go. Sometimes it seems the only thing that sticks around is the fat. Most of America bases diet choice on the popular media, which is constantly seeking the "next revolution" in dieting to grab the attention of shoppers standing in checkout lines, usually next to the candy and snacks.
The seasonal change in "ultimate dieting tips" is bewildering enough without further confusion created by the arguments among scientific experts or the yo-yo appearance of celebrity endorsers. For many years, the most commonly practiced diets focused on cutting out dietary fat, often eliminating many protein sources as well. Based in part upon the food pyramid, carbohydrates were the mainstay of the diets. Success with these low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets were variable, with some losing fat, others actually gaining.
Forbidden Fruit
Recently, another strategy in dieting has come back into vogue.1,2 Completely contrary to the recommendations of the diet plans of *70s and *80s, many diet plans now promote avoiding carbohydrates almost entirely. These diets are collectively referred to as "ketogenic diets." While there are some differences in the many plans (Atkins, Protein Power, Sugar Busters, Greenwich, etc.), they are all based on restricting carbohydrate intake. Instead, food selection is made from choices high in protein and fat. A great deal of attention has been focused on the ketogenic diets, in part due to the reported success of followers of the Atkins diet and the media exposure of its namesake, Dr. Robert Atkins. This attention has proven to be a double-edged sword, as many scientists and agencies are now disputing the effectiveness of the diet and questioning its long-term safety.
