The 1970s were a tough time for diet culture. In those days, there wasn’t much talk about nutrition or the importance of a balanced diet. Instead, what really matters is getting down to a smaller body. Unsurprisingly, this mentality has given rise to many fad diets. There was Cabbage soup diet and The grapefruit diet, which wasn’t very healthy also. While many diets had their moment, one diet managed to hold its own after that era: the Atkins diet.
This trend began to take shape in 1972, when cardiologist Robert C. Atkins’ “Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution,” a book detailing how a low-carb, high-fat diet can aid weight loss and provide other health benefits. The diet works in four stages. During the approximately two-week induction phase, the dieter was to reduce daily net carbohydrates to 20 grams, most of which were to be consumed through green vegetables. Then came the equilibrium phase, during which they could gradually begin consuming more nutrient-dense carbohydrates. Because the dieters were about 10 pounds shy of their goal weight, they approached the pre-maintenance phase, allowing them to add 10 grams of net carbs to their weekly meals and expand their nutrient-dense carb options. Finally came the maintenance phase, which pushed them to eat a level of net carbs that suited their lifestyle.
Now, there were several Fad diets of the 70s that wouldn’t fly today. However, Atkins has outlasted many of them, with one in 11 Americans reporting that they were on a low-carb diet in 2004, per NPR. However, the longevity of the diet can be a good or bad thing, depending on who you ask.
The Atkins diet was different from the mainstream diets of the 1970s in several ways
In some ways, the Atkins diet was a breath of fresh air in an era when the consensus was that you should eat as little food as possible to lose weight. It also distinguishes itself from the fad diets of the era by framing weight loss as something achieved through long-term changes. While many diets in the 1970s, such as the cabbage soup diet, restricted food to things that didn’t fill you up, the Atkins diet actually seems to focus on satiety. People on the diet were encouraged to fill their plates with protein and fat, which may help them feel fuller for longer. Because people feel more full, they will be less likely to overeat and thus feel more compelled to stick to the diet in the long term.
In conversation with Cleveland ClinicRegistered dietitian Maxine Smith acknowledges that the carbohydrate restrictions on the Atkins diet can be helpful in weight loss, saying, “Most American diets are 55% carbs or higher. If you cut out all of those carbs, you’ll likely eat fewer calories overall and lose weight.” Smith also explained that carbohydrate restrictions can cause the body to enter ketosis and use stored fat for energy and thus lose weight.
A low-carb diet may help people keep blood sugar levels under control. According to Billy Shupe, registered dietitian Validity of the flagOne study also showed that the diet can lower triglycerides, improve HDL cholesterol, and reduce LDL cholesterol. However, she is quick to point out that it is unclear whether these benefits will last in the long term.
The Atkins diet had a lot of potential downsides
The truth about the Atkins diet is that it may not be the best idea for public health. In chat with WebMD, Dr. Neil Barnard, chairman of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, said the diet’s heavy emphasis on protein and fat has several downsides. “People who eat meat every day have a three times greater risk of developing colon cancer,” Barnard explained. “Then there’s the problem of the kidneys. They’re not designed to work on an oily slick of fat.” He also noted that low-carb diets have been associated with an increased risk of colon cancer, kidney stones, kidney disease, and osteoporosis.
During Maxine Smith’s conversation with the Cleveland Clinic, she said that carbohydrate restrictions in the diet can also interfere with electrolyte levels, cause constipation, and lead to dangerously low blood sugar levels. She also noted that diet rules regarding net carbs prevent the inclusion of many fruits and vegetables that provide vital nutrients. By eliminating these foods, the dieter may experience deficiencies and health problems. Another issue is that the diet allows the consumption of processed meat. Eating processed meat every day can seriously affect cognitive health It causes many other health problems.
As the body adjusts to the lack of carbohydrates, its preferred energy source, a person can expect to feel fatigued and nauseous. They may also experience headaches and mental fog. Therefore, although the Atkins diet is not nearly as restrictive as other diets of the 1970s, it is controversial whether the restrictions leave enough food options to be sustainable for a long time.
