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A Low-fat Diet Solves the Obesity Epidemic
A low-fat diet as used by Kempner (the Rice Diet), Pritikin, Ornish, McDougall, and Barnard is based on plant foods and contains 10% or less of the calories from fats of all kinds. Except for the Kempner Diet, all of these truly low-fat diets emphasize unrefined foods consumed in unlimited amounts (ad libitum). A recent review of 28 trials using lower-fat, higher-carbohydrate diets found a 10% reduction in fat resulted in a 6.3 pound (2.88 Kg) weight loss sustained over 6 months.[56] When the researchers in another study allowed the dieters to eat as much as they wanted of a diet containing 18% fat, along with exercise, the results were: an 11 pound (4.8 Kg) weight loss, and without exercise, the same diet resulted in a 7 pound (3.2 Kg) weight loss, over 12 weeks.[57] Another study of sixty-four healthy post-menopausal women on a low-fat diet (11% fat) for 8 months found an average 13 pound (6 Kg) weight loss.[58] The composition of these low-fat diets reflect the diets of people living in rural communities in Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East – which means a starch-based diet followed by millions of people living without obesity, type-2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and the cancers common to Western societies.[59]
The most relevant information on successful weight loss comes from the National Weight Control Registry.[35-37] Successful dieters have been tracked by this study since 1993. The registry is simply a database of people successful at maintaining a weight loss of at least 30 lbs. (13.6 kg) for at least one year. However, the average registrant has lost 70 pounds (32 kg) and kept it off for 6 years. To date, there are over 4,000 people, from all over the United States, enrolled in the National Weight Control Registry.
On average, registrants report consuming about 1400 kcal/day (24 percent calories from fat) and expending about 400 calories/day in physical exercise. Approximately 80% of the registrants eat less than 30% fat, and 35% eat less than 20% fat. Although they may have lost their initial weight by a variety of methods, including liquid protein diets, on their own, or through an organized program, all are currently maintaining their weight losses by eating low-energy, low-fat diets and engaging in regular physical activity. About 50 percent of participants lost weight on their own without any type of formal program or help.
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Atkins Scientific Research – Deceit and Disappointment
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We began this archive as a means of assisting our visitors in answering many of their health and diet questions, and in encouraging them to take a pro-active part in their own health. We believe the articles and information contained herein are true, but are not presenting them as advice. We, personally, have found that a whole food vegan diet has helped our own health, and simply wish to share with others the things we have found. Each of us must make our own decisions, for it's our own body. If you have a health problem, see your own physician.