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Adkins Diet Analysis 1
Weight Management Diet Analysis Assignment
Emily Lynch
Sinclair Community College
Dietetics 129 – Principles of Nutrition
Nora Schaefer RD, LD
August, 2010
Adkins Diet Analysis 2
1. List a sample day's menu this program allows and provide a nutritional analysis of the
menu. (20 points).
Adkins Diet
Breakfast
2 medium scrambled eggs with 1 cubic inch cheddar cheese
½ cup sautéed mushrooms in olive oil and ¼ onions
1 strip of turkey bacon
1 6 oz cup of coffee with 1 oz cream and 1 packet of Splenda
8 oz of water
Lunch
8 oz glass of water
½ cup cauliflower raw
½ cup broccoli raw
2 tablespoons Ranch dressing
3 oz salmon fillet cooked in 2 table spoons lemon juice, 1 garlic clove, and 1 tablespoon
butter
Dinner
8 oz of water
2 cups Caesar salad with 1 oz sprinkled mozzarella
1/3 tomato diced
2 tablespoons Caesar dressing
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½ cup summer squash
1 tablespoon butter
3 oz beef
Snack
1 oz cheddar cheese cube
8 oz water
2 medium celery stalks
½ cup cut pepper
2 table spoons Ranch dressing
Determine if the program includes a well balanced diet? (a-f)
a. Does the diet include a reasonable number of calories (not less than 1200)?
There are a reasonable number of calories provided in an “induction phase” worth of
dietary intake and throughout the other phases. The calorie count from the hypothetical daily
intake I created from foods encouraged on this diet totaled 1977 calories. Based on the website,
there is no method of limiting calories but it may be implied that dieters are encouraged to follow
sample menus and recipes. The concept is to strictly limit simple carbohydrates and other
carbohydrates found in most fruits, vegetables, and grains. The only method is to abide by the
menu of foods that are allowed. By obeying the standardized allowances of the diet, if the dieter
follows pre-determined portions on a daily menu already established that is, the calorie intake is
controlled by default although it is completely possible to eat the allowed foods in excess since it
is not directly advised and thus not mandatory to follow the example menus available. Generally
speaking the diet plan does not stress portion size as priority but only carbohydrate limitations.
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b. Does it provide enough but not too much protein (at least the RDA)? What protein
percent of the total calories does this diet plan provide? Does this percentage meet
the DRI range for protein? (10 points)
The Adkins diet provides an excess amount of protein compared to the recommended
protein allowance. The protein intake exceeds the daily recommended intake percentage as it is
at 19% of the energy intake. (A sample of a day’s menu on the Adkins site is even more…) The
recommended protein intake based on the myfoodpyramid.gov website it should not exceed
about 10% however; according to the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range provided in
the text it can be as high as 35% of energy intake (Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition,
Rolfes, Pinna, and Whitney).
c. Does it provide enough fat for satisfaction? What fat percent of the total calories
does this diet plan provide? Does this percentage meet the DRI range for fat?
(10 points)
This diet exceeds also in the area of fat energy intake which, yes, would provide the
satiety factor. The total fat intake is a whopping 74% of total energy intake. Myfoodpyramid.gov
recommends no more than 76.9 grams which is 35% and the Acceptable Macronutrient
Distribution Range provided coincides with this recommendation saying fat intake should be
between 20-35% of total fat energy intake. It would be difficult to limit the energy intake of fat
on this particular diet that restricts carbohydrate intake so much (Understanding Normal and
Clinical Nutrition, Rolfes, Pinna, and Whitney).
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d. How much CHO in grams does this diet provide? How much CHO is needed to
spare protein? Does this diet plan provide enough CHO to spare protein? (10 points)
What CHO percent of the total calories does this diet plan provide? Does this
percentage meet the DRI range for CHO? (10 points)
This diet allows for no more than 20 to 30 grams of the recommended 130 grams of
carbohydrate even at its most generous phase. To spare protein, one must eat between 50 to 100
grams of carbohydrate a day. The very success factor of this diet – at least in the first “induction
phase” is based on inducing ketosis which of course induces body protein wasting. This diet plan
is only 6% of the total energy intake requirement from carbohydrates compared to what it should
be – which is at least 45%. Therefore this is not enough to spare an adequate amount of protein
and keep the body from producing glucose from body protein for energy (regardless of the
excess protein intake from food.) As a result, the body loses essential water and muscle protein
along with fat stores which is not an efficient nor healthy weight loss method (Understanding
Normal and Clinical Nutrition, Rolfes, Pinna, and Whitney).
e. Does it allow for a variety of foods to choose from and offer a balanced assortment of
vitamins and minerals from all food groups? (5 points)
The Adkins diet encourages most of one’s intake to come from a variety of protein rich
foods and a good variety of low carbohydrate vegetables. In fact they encourage the dieter to eat
at least 12 to 15 grams of carbohydrates from vegetables a day. However; there are no starchy
vegetables and virtually neither fruits nor grains in any of the recipes provided for this diet. This
diet is not based on the goal of variety nor does it focus even on moderation. (In fact the website
suggests to, “Eat liberally of combinations of fat and protein” and “Eat absolutely no fruit, bread,
pasta, grains, starchy vegetables or dairy products other than cheese, cream or butter”
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http://www.the-atkins-diet.info/atkins-induction-phase.htm). In other online sources such as
Wikipedia, Adkins diet experts claim they do not encourage “binging” but there is little suggest
otherwise in their other online publications with regard to an affirmed protein and fat calorie
limit – regardless if there is a calorie limit or not, however; the percentage from protein and fat
grossly exceeds what they should be. This means total fat, cholesterol, and sodium are at least
double the recommended amounts and other vitamins and minerals that would be derived from
grains and fruits are less than half of what they should be. And where there is an excess of these
items that should be kept to a minimum, there is poor vitamin and mineral absorption through
supplementation. (Where there is excess sodium, calcium absorption falters, for example.)
f. Does it consist of ordinary foods that are available locally at a price people
Ordinarily pay? (5 points)
The foods on the diet are normal but it can be expensive if one purchased only “Adkins”
brand name labeled varieties to ease the burden and time spent of trying to figure out what is
allowed and what isn’t on the actual diet. The product and the name tailored just to market this
diet costs more than just buying the specified foods that are always available at a normal cost at
any local grocery store.
2. Does it provide for behavior modification? (5 points)
a. Are clients taught how to identify their individual behavior and help them develop
personalized strategies for changing that behavior?
There doesn’t seem to be a personalized councilor assigned to a dieter advocating correct
consumption, providing accountability or otherwise regarding the safety, health, nor results of
the diet plan. There are a few tips and suggestions in the fine print (for anyone caring to read
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them or daring to follow the diet plan) that point toward individualistic behavior such as caffeine
addictions and alcohol drinkers encouraging them that they should sustain from these things
while on the diet and that since the diet is based on low carbohydrate/high protein concept,
vegans and vegetarians will have a hard time with the diet since they provide no menu option to
accommodate them specifically. Therefore, vegans and vegetarians are told they have to start
accepting at least fish into their daily regimen. It also provides a comment encouraging adjusting
portion sizes to suit one’s individual appetite but again there is no portion control other than
advise not to eat to the point of feeling “stuffed.” There is also a list of up to 10 different ways to
customize the diet to meet your needs in such areas as starting at the phase of your choice and
moving at the right pace for you, for example.
It also advertises that the Adkins diet is all about learning how different foods affect you.
I suppose this can be another example of how they accommodate for individualizing the diet
while encouraging the dieter to explore the options and recipes of the diet plan.
3. Does the program include a component of exercise: (5 points)
After searching long and hard for any exercise tips the Adkins Diet professionals may have
all I found was one comment on their “Adkins Diet Lifetime Maintenance” list which provided a
tip as the very last bulleted item stating, “Make exercise a regular part of your life” and “Being
active has numerous benefits from improving mood and mental focus to managing weight and
preventing chronic health conditions”
(http://www.atkins.com/Science/UnderstandingNutritionAndExercise/Activity.aspx ).Then the
website offers a “more information” button that explains the generic “common sense” review of
what activity is suggested for anyone and everyone. None of the information, however; refers
directly to its relationship between activity and the Adkins diet program specifically. Of course,
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given the body protein wasting affect and the slowing of metabolism this diet has on the body
doesn’t exactly equip the body to perform well in the area of energy expenditure since the body
protein and intake is sacrificed to sustain energy (as opposed to the proper major protein sparing
energy of carbohydrates) for normal body processes instead of performing its other important
roles (Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition, Rolfes, Pinna, and Whitney). So I
understand why they wouldn’t go out of their way to advocate a lot of exercise while on the diet.
Not only is the body using protein inefficiently but it is also working hard to metabolize the
excess through the liver and kidneys trying to cleanse the body of the nitrogen which creates
toxic ammonia, diluting it as urea and excreting it through the urine. A very busy process if the
majority of what is eaten is protein.
a. What type of exercise is recommended? Is the client examined by their personal
physician to determine the appropriateness of exercise?
There is no specification regarding what type of exercise is recommended. It simply
states to “make exercise a regular part of your life.”
From what I can find there is no personal physician or advocate available through the
website information or weight loss program unless you personally decide to inform and recruit
your personal physician to aid you with the best personalized feedback possible. When you start
this diet, whether you buy all the products and read all the books or not, you are virtually on your
own with little to no support. The support you do have is from others who are advocates,
testimonials, or fellow dieters that can be easily reached through an online discussion forum.
Perhaps the in depth literature and publications on the Adkins diet would best describe what
exercise is appropriate but it certainly wouldn’t be personalized so basically, one would have to
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consult their personal physician as far as getting advice on what exercise, if any, would be
appropriate while on this diet.
b. Are the "counselors' qualified to provide these services? What are their
qualifications?
From what I’ve seen on the web in relation to the Adkins program providing support by
counselors or physicians of any kind other than simply stating that you should potentially inform
your personal physician especially if you have any health conditions that could be impacted by
the low-carb diet. Therefore, there is no qualified counselor (since most support that can be
found is from others just like you…) to help you along unless you recruit your own personal
physician.
4. Does this program provide any support system for the client? (2 points)
a. Who provides the support? How often?
There is a support group via an online forum if and when a dieter chooses to participate.
5.
Misc. questions: (8 points)
a. Is the program medically supervised? Does the physician regularly see the client and
does the physician know the client well enough to be safe?
It is not medically supervised unless the dieter decides to be under the regular care of
their own personal physician or dietitian. There are similar low carbohydrate diets (the Ketogenic
diet) that is used mostly for epileptic patients where ketosis keeps seizure activity to a minimum
or otherwise completely eliminates it. In such cases a dietitian not only supervises their intake
regularly but plans their intake and portion sizes strictly keeping a tight rein on the regimen
along with strong support and accountability while watching other health risks closely (such as
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cardiovascular disease) as to keep them at bay. The Adkins Diet, however; has no such
supervision.
b. Does the program promote the use of special dietary supplements, such as vitamin
and mineral tablets, pills, weight loss aids?
The Adkins diet does recommend a daily multi-vitamin supplement to make up for the
loss of nutrients such as potassium, magnesium and calcium, but without iron. They also provide
fortified snack bars and shakes that offer these vitamins and minerals in the form of
supplementation though they may not be as bio-available as they do not come from the foods that
naturally supply them.
c. Does the program offer unproved testing or analysis, such as hair or breath analysis?
There is a breath analysis instruments referred to as Ketostix which reveal and measure
ketones in a low carbohydrate dieter’s breath verifying when, if and at what degree ketosis
occurs. This is a proven test and does actually monitor ketosis but has nothing to do with
monitoring neither health nor success of the diet. The advocate’s proof of success is primarily in
the weight loss results. That’s all the “proof” they need.
c. What claims are made that are just too good to be true?
Weight loss is the primary promise and yes it has definite results but it implies that one
must stay on the weight loss maintenance program for good if they don’t want their weight to be
gained back while discouraging a simple low calorie diet as it would not be as “successful.”
Staying on the diet long term can cause serious cardiovascular diseases and all the other similar
associated complications. The weight loss promise through the Adkins diet also claims that the
body will turn the body into a “fat burning machine” but in actuality the abundance of the weight
loss is from water and body protein as well as body fat which is an expensive and inefficient use
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of protein to achieve weight loss – not fat loss. There are many claims that the diet prevents
cardiovascular disease, lowers the low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and increases the
amount of HDL cholesterol but other studies concluded that the diet contributes to
cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, osteoporosis, and kidney stones
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkins_diet).
It is also stated, “Low-carbohydrate diets like the Atkins diet are often touted for their
ability to reduce LDL and triglycerides, but this effect is caused by the initial weight loss,
Tallmedge said. ‘Once the weight loss has stopped, they often go higher than ever before.’”
(http://www.weight-loss-institute.com/atkins_diet.htm).
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References
Adkins Nutritionals, www.atkins.com
(Copyright 2010).
Rolfes, Sharon R., M.S. Pinna, Kathryn, M.S., PhD., Whitney, Ellie, B.A, Ph.D.
Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition, Eighth Edition, (2009).
Weight loss Institute, Inc. http://www.weight-loss-institute.com/atkins_diet.htm
Copyright (2002-2010).
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc
. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkins_diet
Copyright (2010).
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