“Atkins Diet Could Lead To Cancer, Bowel Disorders”
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Aug 28, 2003
Almost half of Scotland's 15 hospital trusts will refuse to provide the Atkins diet to patients who request it, due to concerns that it is not a balanced healthy eating plan.
While seven refused to make the diet available, another five said they would judge each request individually and consult with dieticians. Only three confirmed that it was the patient's prerogative to opt for low- carbohydrate food from the hospital menu, though even they would not recommend the diet.
This is the latest in a series of high-profile clashes between the medical community and the controversial eating programme, which has an estimated two million followers in Britain alone. Last week dieticians at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital banned the Atkins diet from its menus. Recently the government-funded Medical Research Council condemned the diet as "pseudo science" and claimed it could lead to kidney damage in some people.
Many of Scotland's major NHS Trusts concur with that view. A spokeswoman for Highland Acute Hospitals said: "The diet is nutritionally imbalanced, potentially hazardous in the short-term and almost definitely in the long-term, presenting an increased risk of major diseases like cancer and bowel disorders. We have no policy for its use and no plans to offer it within the hospital setting at this stage."
While the trust pointed out that patients can avoid foods on the menu which are high in carbohydrates, it would be "reluctant to support its use without further evidence of long-term benefits".
Several other trusts have also taken a strong stance on the issue. "We have a healthy eating policy and the Atkins diet really wouldn't form part of that. If people came into hospital on the diet then they would certainly be advised to stop," said a spokeswoman for North Glasgow University Hospitals. She added that the trust refused to endorse it due to "concerns about the diet's nutritional deficiencies".
New York doctor Robert Atkins first published his diet in 1972 and it was largely ignored for 20 years as researchers promoted the low-fat diet. However, since 1992 his book, The New Diet Revolution, has sold 25 million copies worldwide and is currently selling more than 120,000 copies a month in the UK, beaten only by the latest Harry Potter book.
At the centre of the Atkins doctrine is a diet rich in protein, high in fat with a low carbohydrate intake. Despite the diet's popularity there has been little detailed scientific research on the subject. One study published earlier this year in the New England Journal of Medicine found that more weight was lost on the Atkins diet in the short-term but recommended that further research is conducted to assess long-term cardiovascular effects before the diet could be endorsed.
Several Scottish trusts, such as Yorkhill and Dumfries and Galloway referred to the guidelines of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) as a central feature of their dieticians' advice. In a recent statement on "fad diets" the nation's largest organisation of nutrition professionals noted: "On the basis of current evidence, the British Dietetic Association would not recommend the Atkins diet as the best approach for healthy weight control."
A third of trusts questioned said they would consult with their dieticians on a case-by-case basis to determine whether patients would be given the diet. "Concerns about nutritional deficiencies would be down to individual cases and discussions would take place with dieticians," said a spokeswoman for Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals Trust.
Only three of the trusts questioned left the decision entirely to patients ń although even they refused to support the regimen. Shona Singers of Tayside University Hospitals said: "The dietetic department ... advises that if a patient wants to choose a low-carb diet from the menu list that would be their choice. However, they say they would not advocate the Atkins diet in hospital, preferring patients tochoose a normal, balanced diet."
Dr Stuart Trager, a consultant to Atkins Nutritionals in New York, attacked the approach adopted by many Scottish trusts. "It's not a fair policy. It's a shame these hospitals aren't catering to their patients' dietary needs. I'm not sure hospitals should be dictating dietary practices. One benefit of Atkins is that individuals can follow the diet on their own. So individuals admitted to hospital will just have to make their own compromises and decisions," he said.
Trager dismissed any suggestion that the diet is unhealthy: "Emerging science and research shows that this nutritional approach is healthy and effective and it's becoming increasingly difficult for a medical professional to ignore the growing number of people who are successful in losing weight and improving their health by limiting carbohydrates.
"Many medical professionals are unfortunately unaware of the scientific research that supports this and fall victim to the misconceptions that are frequently exploited by those opposed to limiting carbohydrates."
Nil by mouth?
Argyll & Clyde Acute Hospitals Trust "We would consult with dieticans on these issues"
Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals "We don't provide the Atkins diet for patients who want it. All our patient menus are nutritionally analysed by state-registered dieticians"
Borders General Hospital Trust Headquarters "We would consult with dieticians on these issues"
Dumfries & Galloway Acute Hospitals "We wouldn't recommend the diet for health reasons. The patients can choose from a menu so it's up to them what they want to eat. We wouldn't force them to come off the Atkins diet"
Fife Acute Hospitals Trust "We don't prescribe it at the moment. We're waiting for further guidelines to come out on these diets"
Forth Valley Acute Hospitals Trust "The trust does not make the diet available for our patients"
North Glasgow University Hospitals Trust "We have a healthy eating policy and the Atkins diet really wouldn't form part of that. If people came into hospital on the diet they would certainly be advised to stop"
South Glasgow University Hospitals Trust "We do not provide the Atkins diet. If we received a specific request for it we would speak to the consultant in charge of the patient's care. The medic's decision on the matter would be final"
Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust "We do not make the Atkins diet available to our patients due to the lack of clinical evidence either way"
Highland Acute Hospitals Trust "We have no policy for its use and no plans to offer it within the hospital setting at this stage"
Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals Trust "If a patient came into the hospital on the Atkins diet they would be offered food based on the menus provided"
Lothian University Hospitals Trust "There are always a number of items to choose on the Trust's menu including a number of low carbohydrate options"
Tayside University Hospitals Trust "The dieticians' department advises that if a patient wants to choose a low-carbohydrate diet from the menu list that would be their choice"
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