Packing on the Pounds? Blame Refined Carbs, Not Calories

DENVER, Dec. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Atkins™ Nutritionals, Inc., supports the key premise of the new book Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It by Gary Taubes, namely that a diet overemphasizing refined carbohydrates has led to today's obesity epidemic. Taubes, an acclaimed science journalist and author of Good Calories, Bad Calories, reveals in his new work the bad nutritional science of the 20th century that stressed reduction in caloric intake as the basis for weight loss and ignored the role of insulin in regulating fat storage. Atkins couldn't agree more with his conclusions. Cutting back on added sugars and other refined carbohydrates, while controlling the quality and quantity of overall carbohydrate intake, enables fat to become your primary source of energy.

As Taubes states in his new book, "The point to keep in mind is that you don't lose fat because you cut calories, you lose fat because you cut out the foods that make you fat." For Taubes and Atkins, these foods are the ones filled with simple or refined carbohydrates. Why are refined carbs the villain?  As outlined in the bestselling The New Atkins for a New You, doctors Eric Westman, Stephen Phinney and Jeff Volek argue that the more refined carbs you consume, the more your insulin levels shoot up to remove the glucose in your blood and store it as fat. At the same time, insulin blocks the release of stored fat from your fat cells.  As long as we turn glucose into fat and insulin keeps it there, we're doomed to being heavy. But by changing the balance of fats, carbs and protein in your diet, as you do on Atkins, you limit this insulin response and convert your body to primarily burning fat instead of carbs for energy.

Taubes' well-researched book reviews the more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific studies supporting low-carbohydrate diets for weight loss, weight and blood sugar management and heart health.  Many of those studies on restricted carbohydrate intake, which have dramatically changed the research landscape within the past decade, were highlighted in The New Atkins for a New You.  Among these are seven studies lasting from six months to two years, which usually compare the Atkins Diet™ to common low-fat, higher-carbohydrate weight-loss strategies.  In each case, in terms of total weight loss, individuals on Atkins did at least as well as – and usually better than – those on other diets.

"We're delighted to see Gary Taubes advocating publicly the efficacy of a low-carbohydrate approach," said Colette Heimowitz, M.Sc., Vice President Nutrition and Education at Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. "Why We Get Fat clearly and succinctly outlines the misconceptions that come with the 'calories-in, calories-out' model of weight gain while supporting the crux of the Atkins lifestyle approach: managing the quantity and quality of carbohydrates consumed while reducing refined carbohydrate intake."

About Atkins Nutritionals, Inc.

Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., is a leading player in the $2.4-billion weight-control nutrition category, and offers a powerful lifetime approach to weight loss and ongoing weight management. The Atkins Diet™, also known as the Atkins Nutritional Approach™, focuses on a healthy diet with reduced levels of sugar and other refined carbohydrates and encourages the consumption of adequate protein and good fats, along with high-fiber vegetables, fruits and other whole foods. Backed by research and consumer success stories, this approach allows the body to burn more fat and work more efficiently while moderating hunger and enhancing satisfaction and energy level.

Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., manufactures and sells a variety of nutrition bars, shakes and other foods designed around the nutritional principles of the Atkins Diet. The four Atkins product lines, including Advantage®, Day Break™, Endulge™ and Cuisine™, appeal to a broad audience of both men and women who want to achieve their weight management goals and enjoy a healthier lifestyle. Atkins products are available in more than 30,000 locations throughout the U.S. and internationally. For more information, visit atkins.com. 

SOURCE Atkins Nutritionals, Inc.