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Associated with Low-Carb Diets
New Coalition Also Calls for Government Action on "Low-Carb" Claims
Washington, DC; June 22, 2004 -- With mounting evidence that the low-carb craze is leading
many Americans to make unwise decisions about the amount and types of foods they eat, a new
coalition of consumer, nutrition and public health groups today issued this stern warning: low-
carb diets are unlikely to lead to sustained long term weight loss and they can increase the risk
for a number of life-threatening medical conditions.
At a news conference in Washington, members of the newly formed Partnership for Essential
Nutrition announced the findings of a comprehensive review of the scientific literature that will
serve as the foundation for the activities and advocacy efforts of the coalition. Issued as a
nationwide call to action, this review concludes that losing weight on these extreme low-carb
diets can lead to such serious health problems as kidney stress, liver disorders and gout. These
diets also increase the risk for coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and several types of
cancer. Moreover, the coalition identified a number of short-term side effects from low-
carbohydrate diets that although less serious, can affect a person's quality of life. These include
severe constipation, gastrointestinal problems, nausea, repeated headaches, difficulty in
concentrating and the loss of energy.
"Low-carbohydrate diets conflict with decades of solid scientific research that clearly
encourages us to reduce saturated fat and boost fruit, vegetable and fiber intake," said Barbara
J. Moore, Ph.D., president and CEO of Shape Up America!, which founded the coalition.
"Restricting carbohydrates stresses vital organs and alters brain metabolism while offering no
advantages in terms of either fat loss or long-term weight control."
Comprising 11 leading non-profit consumer, nutrition and public health organizations, the
members of the newly formed Partnership for Essential Nutrition are: Alliance for Aging
Research, American Association of Diabetes Educators, American Institute for Cancer
Research, American Obesity Association, National Consumers League, National Women's
Health Resource Center, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Shape Up America!,
Society for Women's Health Research, University of California at Davis, and Yale-Griffin
Prevention Research Center.
The coalition's review also questions the effectiveness of these extreme low-carbohydrate diets
for sustained weight loss. Summarizing recent scientific studies that find the rapid weight loss
associated with these diets is temporary and often results in weight "snap back," the coalition
voiced apprehension about the processes by which people lose weight on these diets.
Specifically, the new group questioned the safety of diets that force the body into "ketosis," a
process that starves the brain of carbohydrates, forcing the metabolism of protein in the muscles
followed by the metabolic breakdown of fat.
Of key concern is that extreme low-carb diets produce dehydration, which can stress the kidneys
and increase the potential for bone loss contributing to osteoporosis.
Besides raising these warnings, the Partnership for Essential Nutrition took aim at the
proliferation of competing food and beverage products now labeled as "low-carb," "reduced
carb, "carbohydrate free, "carb aware, "carb smart and "carb countdown, none of which are
regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Citing new findings that consumers now
spend an average of $85 a month on these products, the coalition called on FDA to quickly
issue an interim policy about the use of carbohydrate claims and then enforce it.
Currently, both the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), part of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (ATTB) have issued interim
guidelines for how manufacturers can make carbohydrate claims about meat and poultry
products and alcoholic beverages respectively. These guidelines are meant as a stopgap
measure and will likely change once FDA issues final rules.
New Survey Shows Consequences of Low-Carb Hype
The coalition's actions come in response to new survey data showing that the explosive growth
in the popularity of "low-carb" diets is affecting the American diet in unfortunate ways.
Conducted by Opinion Research Corporation (ORC), this survey of 1,017 adult Americans
reveals that:
• One in five (19 percent) adults who are trying to lose weight are doing so primarily by
reducing the amount of carbohydrates they consume;
• Compared to other Americans trying to lose weight, many of those following low- carb
diets are making poor dietary choices. Of special concern, 50 percent are increasing their
consumption of steak, 30 percent are eating more bacon and 43 percent are consuming less
fruit;
• The hype over low-carb foods is also affecting the rest of the population, many of whom
are now consuming less fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Compared to
the five servings a day of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables recommended by the National Cancer
Institute (NCI), the survey finds 68 percent now eat two or less servings of fruit a day and 63
percent consume two or less servings of vegetables.
Moreover, 71 percent of the public consumes less than the three recommended daily servings
of low-fat dairy products while 15 percent say they have cut out dairy products all together.
Compounding these findings, the survey reveals that many consumers are being misled into
believing that extreme low-carb diets are healthy and that carbohydrates, not calories, are what
contributes to weight gain and loss.
According to the survey, 47 percent of Americans now believe that low-carb diets create weight
loss without cutting calories, a view that the overwhelming number of credible scientific studies
refutes. Equally troubling, only 21 percent of Americans know that low-carb diets are not
recommended for people with diabetes, when in fact, the American Diabetes Association along
with all the leading nutrition and public health groups recommend that for optimal health as
well as weight loss, people should consume a diet that includes a variety of foods primarily
composed of carbohydrates, and especially fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy
products.
At the same time, the survey finds very limited understanding of the amount of carbohydrates
needed each day for good health. Although the Institute of Medicine (part of the National
Academy of Sciences) issued a recommendation that children and adults get a minimum of
130 grams of carbohydrate daily, only 19 percent of those surveyed knew this fact. Instead 51
percent believe that adults need significantly less, while 21 percent have no idea. Only 10
percent believe that adults need more.
New Initiative Focuses on Importance of Varied Diet Including Carbohydrates
To guide weight-conscious consumers who may be tempted by the promises of low-carb diets,
the Partnership for Essential Nutrition will use multiple information channels to reach the public
with specific information about what carbohydrates are and what can happen when people
don't get enough. The goal will be to raise awareness that carbohydrates contain essential
nutrients that provide fuel for the brain and muscles, contain the fiber needed for proper gut
function, help to control body weight and have been demonstrated through numerous scientific
studies to lower the risk for certain cancers, stroke, heart disease and high blood pressure.
To drive home these messages, the coalition will convey solutions-oriented information,
including a series of television and print public service advertisements and a new Web site --
www.essentialnutrition.org. Of special significance is a new :30 television public service
announcement that will air on television stations later this summer and fall.
Produced by Marriner Marketing Communications of Columbia, Maryland, the spot tells
consumers "Losing weight should make you healthier...Get there in a healthy way."
The Partnership for Essential Nutrition is a broad-based group of non-profit consumer, nutrition
and public health organizations formed in 2004 to promote programs, policies and research
that will advance public understanding about the essentials of a nutritionally balanced diet.
Dedicated to providing guidance regarding the important contribution that all three
macronutrients -- carbohydrates, protein and fat -- play in promoting good health and successful
weight loss, the coalition was organized by Shape Up America!, which raised the funds to
develop and implement this educational campaign.
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