The Atkins Diet Plan - What Are the Strengths and Weaknesses of Dr Atkins' Diet Plan?

The Atkins Diet plan first emerged in the early 70s. Founded by Dr. Robert Atkins, who claimed to have lost weight with the diet, its emergence was accompanied by the publishing of a book, Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution in 1972. Although this book was later republished with slight changes as Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, the basic tenets were that a low carb diet was the key to successful weight loss. The program was franchised in 1989 and special low carb products such as bars and shakes for people on the diet were added to the product line. The diet became exceedingly popular and its popularity continued into the 80s and 90s.

The Atkins Diet plan was based on four phases: induction, ongoing weight loss, pre-maintenance and lifetime maintenance. Of all phases, the most important one was considered to be the induction phase which was to last two weeks, as it was here that the most profound weight loss was to occur. In this phase, people were to eat less carbs and especially less flour and sugar; the idea being that your body would undergo a metabolic change and begin to burn fat instead of carbs and sugar. The diet plan also included a list of acceptable foods for the crucial induction phase that included high amounts of protein and fat and moderate exercise. The reason for increasing fat was that Dr. Atkins claimed that it was the lack of fat that made people feel hungry and that this was the main reason for the failure of other diets which could not be sustained. In later phases of Dr. Atkins diet plan, carbohydrates were slowly re-introduced to the diet but still monitored and reduced. The basic idea was that after losing weight in the induction phase, carbs were slowly reintroduced up to the point where the individual was still experiencing weight loss, and then again up to the point where no weight gain was occurring.

While many people certainly lost weight with the Atkins Diet plan, in order to eat less carbs and not feel hungry, people were to eat foods high in protein and fat. Opponents of Atkins Diet plan argue that this is unhealthy. In addition, opponents argue that while people may well lose weight in the induction phase, most of this weight loss is due to water loss and cannot be maintained. It was further argued that no metabolic change occurred in the body with this diet, and that indeed, in the long term, the followers of the Atkins plan were susceptible to serious health risks, such as increased risk of heart attack due to the high fats and other metabolic and emotional changes. What is more, the diet was found to be expensive and possibly contributed to a decrease in sales of flour and pasta.

With the death of Dr. Atkins in a tragic accident in 2003, the company founded to sell the Atkins products declared bankruptcy in 2005. The business and the Atkins Diet plan reemerged in 2006 but they have yet to achieve the same level of popularity that they previously experienced. It seems that low carb diets no longer garner the attention that they once did.

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