British Health Report Shows Atkins Still Going Strong

A new Research and Markets report on the Atkins diet in the UK was released on Thursday and reveal a mixed bag when it comes to health beliefs held by British people.

The Dublin-based study group said the obesity problem in England has spurred the British citizenry to find various ways to lose weight and have them looking carefully at the foods they can buy to help them reach that goal.

The Health Select Committee concluded there is a strong link between diet and health and said reducing the consumption of such things as fat and sugar will contribute to better health.

While I can agree with the elimination of sugar from our diet, I must disagree with making the same statements about fat. When you are livin' la vida low-carb, you need fat in your diet. It's an important element in the low-carb equation.

Furthermore, as I have stated previously, it is dangerous to mix both a low-carb and low-fat approach at the same time. It's foolish to think that will make you lose weight any faster than adhering to one or the other. Of course, I think you should do low-carb rather than low-fat, but just don't do both!

Admitting that the "Atkins Revolution" has caused quite a stir since late 2003 in Great Britain, the study found a slew of new low-carbohydrate products on the market. Interestingly, the study found it difficult to quantify how many low-carb foods there are now because of all the sugar-free items that are also considered low-carb. But, as it is in the U.S., the number of products is considerable and still selling well.

Pointing out the media-created illusion that the low-carb lifestyle boom is fading in the United States, the study concluded the same would happen in the U.K. sooner than later.

Ho-hum! How many times have we heard this from our media in the past year? Low-carb is NOT a fad and is NOT dead. It's here to stay as long as people are livin' la vida low-carb. The market will have to accomodate us somehow and will continue to provide those products we buy. It's the free market at work, baby!

HERE ARE SOME FINDINGS FROM THE SURVEY:

- Some disturbing responses from the research respondents found that two-thirds of them think cutting fat is just as important as cutting carbs. When will they ever learn?!

- Almost half said exercising more is better than eating less food to lose weight. Now that's a good thought!

- One-fourth like weight loss clubs on nearly one-fifth like weight loss drinks and bars to help them shed pounds.

- A positive finding of the survey show nearly two-thirds believe "it is very important not to be overweight." Can we convince Americans to have the same concern?!

- Why do Britains want to lose weight? One-fourth for health, one-fourth for how they look and one-fifth to make them happy.

We need to have an open and honest debate about effective ways to resolve the obesity problem in this country. Not until the low-carb lifestyle is given equal footing as a low-fat diet will we ever be able to make a dent into this growing (all pun intended!) obesity problem! Are you listening up there on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.?!?!?!