In the 1940s, as Seid & Rosenbaum (2019) reported, the diet hypothesis suggested that high diet saturated cholesterol and saturated fat intake caused coronary heart disease. This hypothesis influenced the federal government to recommend a low-fat diet for ‘High risk’ patients except for infants. Among the ‘high risk’ patients are obese patients. Today, globally, the number of people suffering from obesity, as reported by the World Health Organization, is 13% (15% of women and 11% of men). Globally, obesity rates doubled between 1975 and 2016 (World Health Organization,2021). In 2020, United States adults suffering from obesity stood at 42.4%. The high rate of obesity in America was caused by COVID-19 related food insecurity. The country surpassed the 40% mark leading to the national obesity crisis, which requires immediate intervention (Farberman and Kelley, 2020). Atkins specifically used the low carbohydrate diets in the 1970s to treat patients suffering from obesity and type 1 diabetes. By then, Atkins believed that insulin led to weight gain as well as regain via hypometabolism and hyperphagia. Hence, this study aims at examining the history of low carb diet, the Concept, and Nature of keto Diet low carb diet plan, the importance of low carb diet in reducing weight among the obese.
History of Low Carb Diet
Over 80% of American adults are obese or overweight. The original diet for humankind was of a hunter and gathering. They ate forages for berries and nuts as well as animal proteins. Diet knowledge grew tremendously during the age of enlightenment (1685 to 1815). In the 1970s, John Rollo, a Scottish military doctor, treated his patients diagnosed with diabetes using a low-carbohydrate diet. During the Victorian Era, William Banting-a former Obese patient, published ‘Letter on Corpulence Addressed to the Public,’ outlining how he gave up a diet with potatoes, beer, sugar, and bread to reduce weight. In 1923, Dr. Russel Wilder- a doctor at Mayo Clinic, designed the Classic Ketogenic Diet to treat epilepsy. As suggested by the Charlie Foundation, a ratio of fat to protein (4:1) is a golden standard way of reducing weight. Classic Keto’s ratio of 3:1 is structured and can be increased as the outcome are realized. This diet is admired since it helps in low glycemic therapy and yields steady insulin and glucose levels (Elanas pantry, 2018).
After World War 11, Dr. Richard Mackarness published a book ‘Eat fat and Grow Slim’ in the 1950s, praising low-carb, primitive diets, high-fat as they did not have processed foods. In 1972, Dr. Atkins published a diet book known as ‘Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution was based upon Dr. Alfred Pennington’s work, who used a low-carb diet plan to treat his patients during and after WW11(Elanas pantry, 2018).
Concept and Nature of Keto Diet.
The Keto diet is not a form of a low-carb diet. It’s a diet rich in a high-fat diet with low protein a carbohydrates level. An individual on a low-carb diet is not the same as a keto diet. They are feeding on more carbohydrates and proteins combined than fat. The best keto diet is 1:1 since most people need to feed more on protein to treat multiple sclerosis. Having a keto diet of 1:1 means that an individual should have equal fats in grams from carbohydrates and fats combined (Elanas pantry, 2018). In a clinical setup, as reported by Forsythe et al. (2008), A study done by having a nutritious ketosis diet for 12 weeks with low carbohydrates found that adults diagnosed with atherogenic dyslipidemia improved after being on a low-carb diet for 12 weeks.
Low Carb Diet Plan
A low-carb diet majorly aims at a low intake of carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, and sugary foods. The diet is high in healthy vegetables, fat, and protein. An individual who decides to feed on a low-carb diet should consider how much he exercises and the weight he expects to lose. An excellent low-carb diet should have fish, meat, fruit, healthy oils, seeds, vegetables, and fats. The food to avoid includes sugar, refined grains, trans fats, starchy vegetables, highly processed foods, and low-fat products such as cereals and crackers. Some ways to have a low-carb diet include a typical low-carb diet, ketogenic diet, low-carb, high-fat (LCHF), low-carb paleo diet, and the Atkins Eco-Atkins, Zero-carb and low-carb Mediterranean diet. To have an effective low-carb diet plan, an individual should have a plan that suits his way of life, personal health objectives, and food preferences (Gunnars,2019).
Cause and Heath Consequences of Obesity
According to Seid & Rosenbaum (2019). The cause of obesity is an energy imbalance between calories expended and calories consumed. The leading cause of obesity and overweight include increased intake of diets with higher energy-dense food of higher sugars and fats. Also, increased physical inactivity due to lifestyle modification leads to obesity and overweight. Increased levels of BMI lead to cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, and some cancers. Obese children experience psychological effects, hypertension, breathing problems, and insulin resistance (World Health Organization, 2021).
Intake of Low Carb Diets Helps in Weight Loss
According to Seid & Rosenbaum (2019). A low carbohydrate diet promotes weight loss and improves blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels. The researchers reported that in a study that lasted for 6 months to 2 years, the use of a low-carb diet was effective in weight loss compared to diets with higher carbohydrates levels (Shai et al. (, 2008). Similarly, a study that was done by (Jenkins et al., 2009) on the effect of a plant-based low-carbohydrate (“Eco-Atkins”) diet on body weight and blood lipid concentrations in hyperlipidemic subjects found that ‘Eco-Atkins’ diets on a low-carb diet and a low-calories compared to diets with higher levels of carbohydrates and Lacto-Ovo vegetarian levels showed that it improved the low-density lipoprotein levels.
Since having a weight loss to many people, it’s not accessible due to modern lifestyle modification, having a low carb diet is the answer. In a study that was done among UK adults, attaining weight loss of about 5% annually was 1 in 8 men as well as 1 in 7 women. To have a healthy weight loss, an individual must reduce about 10% Gregg et al., (2016). Similarly, a correlational study that was done by. Schulze et al. (2008) found that an increase in carbohydrate intake led to an increased weight gain and a higher prevalence rate of being diagnosed with obesity. Due to the difficulty involved in weight loss, Fung Van Dam’s study, Hankinson, Stampfer, Willet Hu (2010), advocated for low carb diet intervention as an effective therapeutic option in treating obesity. Though there have been controversial findings, over 200 years ago, Dr. John Rollo treated patients suffering from glycosuria with a low-carb diet.
Similarly, dr. Joslin’s Diabetic Diet that contained fish, meat, clear soup, poultry, butter, tea, olive oil, butter, gelatin, and coffee helpedtreatd obese patients as the entire diet had about 5% calories, 75% from fats, 20% from protein. From the above study, it’s clear that a low-carb diet is an answer in the United States in reducing weight and lowering the prevalence rate of being diagnosed with obesity.
The brain ingests the food people eat differently. Though standard dietary recommends about 40-60% calories daily, the diet is never proper. The brain neurons that release serotonin are unique as people’s food controls them. For instance, taking carbohydrates acts on insulin secretion, and the ‘plasma tryptophan ratio’ increases serotonin release; intake of proteins does have such an effect. This means that people get a ‘booster’ by taking carbohydrates daily after strenuous work. Having reduced levels of carbohydrates leads to normal-weight men and lean body mass as there’s a reduced circulation of insulin (Thaler,2014).
In conclusion, obesity is a global issue and affects the United States. To have the levels of obesity among US adults and children brought down having the required diet. As outlined by various scholars, the diet plan that suits obese people has a low-carb diet. The application of and use of a low-carb diet has existed for over 200 years. As outlined by multiple scholars’ intake of a low-carb diet helps reduce weight. A society with people feeding on a higher level of carbohydrates has many cases of obesity and overweight. In contrast, a society that feeds on low-carb intake has lower instances of obesity and overweight. Hence, society needs to have the required diet plan for their food preferences, lifestyle, and health goals.
References
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Gunnars, K. (2019). ‘The 8 Most Popular Ways to Do a Low-Carb Diet’https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-popular-ways-to-do-low-carb
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