Abstract
This overview focuses on the scientific support for selected popular diets; the Atkins diet, glycaemic index methods, the Montignac diet and the palaeolithic diet. The practical application of the diets, and their nutritional composition, in comparison with official dietary recommendations, are also discussed. In conclusion, any diet reducing energy intake may be effective in short-term weight reduction. However, the long-term safety and efficacy of the popular diets need more research to be supported, and the burden of evidence should be placed on the promoters of the diets. Keywords: Atkins; glycaemic index; Montignac; palaeolithic diet
Highlights
Popular diets and their scientific documentationWillett’s food pyramid The food pyramid, first used in Sweden in the 1970s, has a prominent role in official dietary guidelines for Americans
This overview focuses on the scientific support for selected popular diets; the Atkins diet, glycaemic index methods, the Montignac diet and the palaeolithic diet
Overweight: a disease risk factor Overweight, especially abdominal adiposity, contributes considerably to an increased risk of a range of diseases, e.g. type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and hypertension, the risk increasing with increased body weight [1]
Summary
Willett’s food pyramid The food pyramid, first used in Sweden in the 1970s, has a prominent role in official dietary guidelines for Americans. The claimed rationale behind Willett’s food pyramid is that today’s recommendations may lead to a diet low in unsaturated fatty acids and a high glycaemic load, both claimed to be disadvantageous. The usefulness of this alternative food pyramid remains to be confirmed by controlled intervention studies. The low intake of carbohydrates results in ketosis, which, according to Atkins, is the key factor in burning fat and losing weight. Sugar Bread Breakfast cereals Pasta Rice Potatoes Root vegetables Vegetables Fruits, berries Milk/yoghurt Cheese Fish, meat, seafood, chicken Egg Beans, lentils Nuts Cooking fat Alcohol. No No (whole grain) No (whole grain) No (whole grain) No No Yes (not boiled carrots and reed beets) Yes (not corn) Yes (separate from meals) Yes (low-fat) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes (not butter) Yes (wine)
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