'Put fat children on Atkins diet'

[Hulababy]

Story here


But is Atkins really the way forward. Tried it and it was awful. Surely there is a better way?

[zebra]

I think that more exercise is a better tactic.

[WideWebWitch]

ffs! (Once again I make a mature and reasoned contribution)

[Hulababy]

Probably valid here though WWW!

[prufrock]

Actually Atkins style diets (high protien, low fat and never allwing the two to mix) have been accepted for years by nutrionists as a good way for seriously obese people to start to lose weight. Note the start -it's a short term measure which helps to re-regulate the bodies need for and use of insulin to turn protien to fat. A responsible dietician should combine it with an exercise programme (starting with mainly weights rather than cardio as cardio puts too much starin on the heart) and then move onto a more long term healthy eating and regular exercise plan.

[GeorginaA]

I was under the impression that even the Atkins people stressed that it really wasn't suitable for children. Wasn't there that case of the 12 year old in the States who died on the Atkins plan (did something bad to her liver/kidneys or something?)

I really have a lot of issues with putting children on diets while they're still growing and need all their nutrients - surely exercise and simple smaller portion sizes should be tried first?

[Demented]

Don't kids need carbohydrates, pasta, rice, bread, my two virtually live on these. I don't think Atikins is the answer, surely cutting out a vast proportion of the junk food (chocolate, crisps, fizzy juice, fast food etc) and including more fruit and vegetables in their diet and encouraging exercise (parents and schools) would be easier and far healthier than Atkins.

I was speaking to a nursery nurse at our local creche and she commented on how my children almost always have fruit with them for a snack and said she was fed up seeing kids with packets of crisps/biscuits, she then told me that she recently met a three year old who hadn't even tried a banana (they were having a fruit tasting event for the children).

[Paula71]

From all the stuff I have read as far as I can tell children - certainly those under 5 should have about 60% of carbs in their daily diet.

Putting children on this kind of extreme diet, surely that would screw up their minds in how they approach food later in life. "Oh its okay if I get really fat I'll just do Aitkins again." Yo-yo dieting, which I feel Atkins promotes, is far worse than a child taking a year or two to gradually loose their weight through a proper eating plan.

After a prolonged eating plan the bad habits would be lessened and then they wouldn't feel it necessary to do whatever it was that made them fat. And maybe give the parents a help in preparing healthier meals. God that sounds awful preachy but it is so easy to make good food, when I became a SAHM I found it easier and cheaper to make my own stuff. And I am chuffed ds twins prefer homemade.

I know some children just won't eat things but that should be worked on, rather than stick them on this and hope for the best. Remember how Dr Atkins himself died.

[prufrock]

I'm only talking about really really clinically obese kids (and adults). And on a diet where everything is supervised by a doctor. When you are obese the bodies normal self regulation breaks down and your metabolic rate becomes really low. Smaller portion sizes just don't work, as every bit of carbs results in overproduction of insulin, which causes the body to turn every bit of protein or fat into body fat instead of using them to provide energy.

Of course the solution would be to feed our kids healthily all the time so they don't become clinically obese.....

[misdee]

Dr Atkins died after a fall. he had a history of heart problms, one of which is cardiomyopathy, which i must stress is not caused by diet. diet can help control the condition, and sufferers must try not to gain too much weight, Dr atkins gained almost 60lb after his fall as his body gave up. cardiomyopathy caused bloating when the body starts to retain fluids.

but no, kids shouldnt be put on atkins, healthier eating is better, plus more exercise.

[GeorginaA]

Okay, done some research. The biggest issue with a high protein diet is that it has a tendency to leech calcium from the body. Not particularly a problem short-term for an adult, but a really big issue for a child who is still growing. That, as far as I can tell, is the main reason why even the Atkins people don't recommend it for children under 12 (although personally I'd extend that up to whatever age kids stop growing in height - 16/17/18?)

[susanmt]

I've never been on Atkins, but my Urologist (who deals with my kidney stones) says that he is seeing more and more women with kidney stones - its predominantly a male problem. He started keeping a list and 90% of the women he sees with stones are or have been on the Atkins diet - because it does leach calcium from the body - into the urine, where it crystallises into stones.
If you are on Atkins and suffer severe back or groin pain - go to the doctor! Stones can cause a blockage and even lose you your kidney!