Diet facts and fiction

Re “Low-fat diet not tops for weight loss,” July 17

As a dietitian, I’m concerned that the public is once again being misled about the safety and effectiveness of the Atkins diet.

The recent weight-loss study, which was funded in part by the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Foundation, compared a low-carbohydrate diet to a low-fat diet containing 30% of calories from fat. But a truly low-fat diet would contain less than 10% of calories from fat. Study participants on the so-called low-fat diet reduced their total fat intake by only 1.4% -- hardly enough to make a difference.

British Heart Foundation research from the University of Oxford shows that high-fat, low-carb diets directly affect the heart by depleting energy stores. In fact, no long-term study has ever supported a high-protein diet as a safe and effective solution to weight management. Instead of following fad diets, Americans can safeguard their health by consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other healthy vegetarian foods.

Susan Levin

Washington

The writer is a staff dietitian with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.