fad+diets=bad+diets

Written by: Ellen McAfee n8401951

1.0 Topic: Meat: impact on human health

2.0 The Artifact

This is The Atkins Food guide Pyramid. This is a guide to what to eat and in what amount for anyone on the Atkins diet.

3.0 Public health issue The public health issue that I will be addressing is the impact of fad diets, such as the Atkins diet, has on human health. Given that the Atkins diet is high in meat and milk products I will be comparing to a vegetarian and plant-based diet. I will also look at the role that the obesity epidemic plays in the choice to follow a fad diet.

4.0 Literature Review You only need to open a magazine to be inundated with advertisements and testimonials of the effectiveness of the latest fad diet. But how effective are these diets in the long term and what are they doing to our health?

Perhaps the appeal of fad diets such as the Atkins diet is that it turns nutrient recommendations upside down. Foods such as meat and milk products that are suppose to be eaten in moderation can be eaten in excess. (Whitney, E et al., 2011) How necessary for health can meat and milk products be if 80-90% of all cancers, cardiovascular diseases and other forms of degenerative illness can be prevented, at least until very old age, simply by adopting a plant-based diet? (Animal Liberation. N.d) According to Professor T. Collin Campbell, author of The China Project, a two decade long study of the connectives between diet and disease, what the western world considers “normal” illness of aging is not normal at all. (Animal Liberation. N.D)

The Atkins diet is a low carbohydrate; high protein diet that promotes the belief that people are overweight or obese because they have metabolic imbalances caused by eating too many carbohydrates; by restricting these carbohydrates these imbalances can be corrected. (Whitney, E et al., 2011.) Consequently lowering carbohydrate intake then promotes increased intake of protein. The risk of protein rich diets is that they are high in saturated fat and cholesterol and this is a significant risk factor for heart disease.

Meat is one of the major sources of protein recommended in the Atkins diet. White meats such as chicken and fish have different effects to those of red meat however both are harmful. A major study of 135,000 people found that those who frequently ate grilled skinless chicken had a 52% higher risk of bladder cancer then those who never ate it. (Peta, n.d.) While red meat is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, colorectal cancer and renal cancer. (Zoumbaris, S. 2009)

There is also a strong association between a person’s protein intake and BMI. The higher a person intake of protein the higher their BMI. Indicating that too much protein can contribute to weight gain just as much as too much carbohydrate or fat. (Whitney, E et al., 2011.) High protein diets have also been implicated in chronic disease such as osteoporosis, kidney stones and kidney disease. (Whitney, E et al., 2011.) More so, without adequate amount of fruit, vegetables and whole grains, high protein diets lack fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals as well as all dietary factors protective against disease. (Whitney, E et al., 2011.) The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that vegetarians and vegans have a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease, lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes, and lower body mass indexes, as well as lower overall cancer rates. The American Dietetic Association (ADA) concludes that vegetarian or vegan diets "are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.” (Peta, n.d.) Scientists have also found that vegetarians have stronger immune systems; this means that they are less susceptible to everyday illnesses such as the flu. Vegetarians and vegans live, on average, six to 10 years longer than meat-eaters. (Peta, n.d.) The ADA also states that a well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the lifecycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence. (Peta, n.d.)

So why, if meat is causing our health so much harm are we still being encouraged to eat it as part of a “healthy” diet? Meat is a nutrient rich food that provides the body with protein, zinc, iron and B vitamins. However these nutrients are all obtainable from a plant based diet. Iron for example can be found in black beans, cashews, kidney beans, lentils, oatmeal, raisins, black-eyed peas, soybeans and spinach. A Harvard researcher found that the iron in some kind of animal flesh could raise the risk of developing diabetes, while the iron found in plant foods did not. (Peta, n.d.)Protein can be found in beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, peanut butter, tofu, tempeh and soymilk. Unlike animal protein, plant-based protein sources usually also contain fiber and complex carbohydrates. These are beneficial to the body as fiber protects against heart disease and diabetes as well as promoting bowel movement. (Whitney, E. 2011.) Animal products are also high in cholesterol and saturated fat, and consumption of animal protein has been linked to some types of cancer. It is also believed that the high sulfur content of animal protein weakens people's bones. For example, a study by researchers at the University of California found significantly less bone formation in meat-eating women than in vegan women.

Dr T. Campbells is a leading researcher in the field of nutrition at Cornell University. Campbell advocates the health benefits of a plant-based diet. He believes in the consumption of whole foods and states that “We should not be relying on the idea that nutrient supplementation is the way to get nutrition, because it’s not. I’m talking about whole, plant-based foods. The effect it produces is broad for treatment and prevention of a wide variety of ailments, from cancer to heart disease to diabetes.” (Parker-Pope, T. 2011)

5.0 Social Analysis Despite our preoccupation with weight loss, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in all regions of the world is increasing. In 2007/08 68% of men and 55% of women were classified at overweight or obese (defined as having a BMI equal to or over 25) In compassion 17 years early the percentage of men and women classified as overweight or obese were 45% and 32% respectively. (Whitney, E. et al, 2011.) When the world health organization states that that obesity epidemic is affecting 300 million adults it is safe to say that awareness of the issue is critical. The health risks associated with obesity are diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, kidney stones, respiratory problems and complications in pregnancy and surgery. (Whitney, E et al., 2011) Obesity isn’t only affecting people’s health, the burden it weighs on public health system is enormous. In fact the obesity-related illnesses cost to Australia is billions of dollars each year equal to the medical cost of smoking. (Whitney, E. et al. 2011.) However not everyone is affected equally by this obesity epidemic. Due mainly to the impact that environment plays a role in obesity. The environment includes all circumstances that we encounter that influence our food choices. Major driving factors in the environment we live in are: our expose to high kilojoule, readily available and relatively cheap food, occupation and education. Making the people of low socio-economic status more susceptible to the disease than those in a higher socio economic position. As they work longer hours for minimum wage they are less likely to choose to buy a salad that cost $7.00 when they can buy an entire large big mac meal from Mc Donalds for the same price. Nor will a person with limited amount of excess time be able to make a meal for an entire family when they can buy one for approximately the same price and buy it from the seat of their car. This isn’t even taking into account the time and money spent getting to and doing the grocery shopping. The Australian bureau of statics stated that in 2011-12, men living in inner regional, outer regional and remote areas of Australia were more likely to be overweight or obese (74.4%) compared with men living in major cities (67.7%) This pattern was also consistent for women, with women living in inner regional, outer regional and remote areas more likely to be overweight or obese (63.2%) than women living in major cities (52.5%). (ABS, 2013.)

6.0 Learning Reflection Studying nutrition I am now fully appreciating the issues that fad diets have on society. The need for safe and effective weight-loss strategies to be promoted is paramount in fighting the obesity epidemic. Otherwise people will continue to turn to any fad diet that typically falls short of delivering on their promises. Thanks to the Internet and social media anyone can publish anything the result being that peddlers of fad diets can make unsubstantiated inaccurate statements. The Atkins diet for example states that the major food group to be eaten is meat and milk products, with the breads and cereals food group being eaten in moderation. This is inconsistent with all traditional nutrition recommendation that advise that the breads and cereals food group should be the greatest contributor to daily kilojoule intake. For me, this assessment piece taught me the importance that media plays in promoting fad diets and it has made me think of the future roles that nutritionist and dieticians will play if the obesity epidemic continues to rise.

7.0 References ABS, 4338.0 - Profiles of Health, Australia, 2011-13

Animal Liberation. (n.d) Dairy it’s not natural it’s harming cattle, the environment and you. Retrieved from: []

Animals Australia. (2012). Dairies great calcium myth. Retrieved on October 15 from: []

Draper G, Turrell G, Oldenburg B. (2004.) Health Inequalities in Australia: Mortality. Health Inequalities Monitoring Series No. 1 AIHW Cat No. PHE 55, Canberra: QUT and AIHW. Retrieved from: http://www.aihw.gov.au/mediacentre/2005/mr20050307.cfm

Peta. (n.d.) Eating for your health. Retrieved on 1/11/13 from: []

Tara Parker-Pope. (2011). Eating Advise From The China Study. Retrieved 1/11/13 from: []

Whitney, E. Rady Rolfes, S. Crowe, T. Cameron-Smith, D. Walsh, A. (2011) //Understanding Nutrition// (1st ed.). South Melbourne, Victoria: Cenage Learning. 8.0 Reviews: http://healthcultureandsociety2013.wikispaces.com/share/view/64695444

http://healthcultureandsociety2013.wikispaces.com/share/view/647026