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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 9, 2001
CONTACT:
Simon Chaitowitz, Communications Director
tel: 202-686-2210, ext. 309; simonc@pcrm.org
Doctors Rate Popular Diet Books
Low-Fat Books
Score Healthiest; High-Protein, Atkins-Style Diets Earn 'Unsafe'
Rating
Washington, D.C.—On the eve of a long-awaited U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) report on the health effects of popular diets,
the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has completed
its own nutritional analysis of top weight-loss books. Doctors and
registered dietitians at PCRM, a nonprofit health organization based
in Washington, D.C., rated 11 of the top books, including best-sellers
by diet authors Robert Atkins, M.D., and Barry Sears, Ph.D.
Only two books earned PCRM's top rating of five stars: Eat
More, Weigh Less by Dean Ornish, M.D., and The McDougall
Program for Weight Loss by John McDougall, M.D. Both promote
low-fat, vegetarian diets, which are high in fiber and low in cholesterol.
Lowest ratings went to Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution and
The Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program by Richard Heller,
Ph.D., and Rachel Heller, Ph.D., both of which espouse high-protein,
low-carbohydrate menus. Atkins' and Ornish's programs are likely
to be included in the USDA report scheduled for release 11 January.
"Comparing the choices out there for dieters, the vegetarian diets
are clearly the healthiest, the more moderate low-fat diets are
a distant second, and high-protein, Atkins-style diets are the worst—in
fact, dangerous over the long run," says PCRM president Neal D.
Barnard, M.D. "High-protein diets can harm the kidneys, weaken bones,
increase cancer and heart disease risk, and create a number of other
health problems."
Both of the diet books ranked highest by PCRM are supported by
published research studies, while high-protein diets are not.
PCRM rated each book's daily diet recommendations on five criteria
critical to good nutrition and safe, healthy weight loss: a minimum
of 25 grams of fiber, five servings of fruits and vegetables, no
more than 50 milligrams of cholesterol, no more than 30 percent
of total calories from fat and no more than 10 percent from saturated
fat.
Diet Book Ratings
FIVE STARS—Outstanding
- The McDougall Program for Maximum Weight Loss by John
McDougall, M.D.
- Eat More, Weigh Less by Dean Ornish, M.D.
FOUR STARS—Good
- Dr. Shapiro's Picture Perfect Weight Loss by Howard M.
Shapiro, D.O.
- Eating Well for Optimum Health by Andrew Weil, M.D.
THREE STARS—Satisfactory
- Dieting for Dummies by Jane Kirby, R.D.
- The Soy Zone by Barry Sears, Ph.D.
- Weight Watchers: New Complete Cookbook by Weight Watchers
TWO STARS—Not Satisfactory
- Body for Life by Bill Phillips
- Sugar Busters! by H. Leighton Steward; Sam S. Andrews,
M.D.; Morrison C. Bertha, M.D.; Luis A. Balart, M.D.
NO STARS—Unsafe
- Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution by Robert Atkins, M.D.
- The Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program by Richard
Heller, Ph.D., and Rachael Heller, Ph.D.
Editors: For an interview with a PCRM doctor or nutritionist,
please contact Ms. Simon Chaitowitz at 202-686-2210, ext. 309.
Founded in 1985, PCRM is a nonprofit health organization that
promotes preventive medicine, especially better nutrition, and higher
standards in research.
-30-
Weight Loss Books Rated January 2001 by the Physicians Committee
for Responsible Medicine
A healthy diet is high in fiber and based around whole grains,
legumes, fruits, and vegetables. To prevent chronic disease such
as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and cancer, a nutritious diet
should also be low in cholesterol, total fat, and saturated fat.
Weight loss diets should meet these same criteria.
In order to rate the overall healthfulness and safety of current
weight loss books, the nutrition staff at the Physicians Committee
for Responsible Medicine ranked the following books on the above
criteria with a five-star system. Using a nutritional analysis on
sample menus in these books, the diet plans were given one star
each for having high fiber menus (greater than 25 grams of fiber
per day), having at least five servings of fruits and vegetables
each day, being low in cholesterol (less than 50 milligrams of cholesterol
per day), being low in total fat (less than 30 percent fat), and
low in saturated fat (less than 10 percent saturated fat).
* * *
The McDougall Program for Maximum Weight Loss by John McDougall,
M.D.
FIVE STARS—Outstanding
This program encourages exercise and healthy, low-fat eating. Examples
of delectable, healthy recipes include split pea vegetable stew
and picante black beans. All sample menus are very low in fat and
cholesterol-free.
* * *
Eat More, Weigh Less by Dean Ornish, M.D.
FIVE STARS—Outstanding
This diet program is backed by solid research conducted by Dr. Ornish
and his colleagues. Not only is this low-fat, vegetarian dietary
approach effective in helping people lose weight, it has also been
shown to reverse the effects of heart disease. The menus are flavorful
and based on whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruit.
* * *
Dr. Shapiro's Picture Perfect Weight Loss by Howard M.
Shapiro, D.O.
FOUR STARS—Good
Dr. Shapiro's approach to weight loss involves learning about low-calorie
alternatives for foods. For example, for the same number of calories
in a half-cup of ice cream, a person could have 10 Tofutti Chocolate
Fudge Treats or 15 plums. Just 2 ounces of cheese equals the number
of calories in 30 dried apricots. The book contains wonderful pictures
to help the reader visualize alternatives to high-calorie, high-fat
foods. No recipes are included; however, there is helpful information
on dining out.
* * *
Eating Well for Optimum Health by Andrew Weil, M.D.
FOUR STARS—Good
This dietary approach emphasizes less refined, less processed foods
that have a low glycemic index. Dr. Weil also recommends increasing
fiber to 40 grams per day by increasing your intake of berries,
beans, and whole grains. The majority of fat calories are derived
from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Most recipes are
appealing and easy to prepare.
* * *
Dieting for Dummies by Jane Kirby, R.D.
THREE STARS—Satisfactory
This diet is based on grains, vegetables, and fruit. However, sample
menus emphasized high-cholesterol, low-fiber foods, such as an egg
for breakfast, turkey and milk for lunch, fish for dinner, and cheese
for an evening snack.
* * *
The Soy Zone by Barry Sears, Ph.D.
THREE STARS—Satisfactory
The sample menus emphasize protein and fat rather than complex carbohydrates.
Dr. Sears does recommend, however, a high fruit and vegetable intake
(15 servings per day). Recipes are not low in fat nor cholesterol,
but sample menus keep the saturated fat content to below 10 percent
of total calories.
* * *
Weight Watchers: New Complete Cookbook by Weight Watchers
THREE STARS—Satisfactory
Sample menus are relatively low in fiber, not meeting the recommended
25 grams of fiber per day. This is mainly the result of meals that
centered around no-fiber, high-cholesterol foods like shrimp, salmon,
chicken salad, and pastrami. On the upside, most recipes are low
in fat. Recipes are easy to prepare and most seem flavorful.
* * *
Body for Life by Bill Phillips
TWO STARS—Not Satisfactory
This diet program, which focuses on setting life, diet, and exercise
goals, has sample menus based around protein sources such as meat
and eggs. Phillips also recommends a protein shake as a snack two
or three times a day. Menus are lacking in fruits, vegetables, and
fiber, and are high in cholesterol. The overall diet is, however,
fairly low in both fat and saturated fat.
* * *
Sugar Busters! by H. Leighton Steward; Sam S. Andrews,
M.D.; Morrison C. Bertha, M.D.; Luis A Balart, M.D.
TWO STARS—Not Satisfactory
Whole grains are recommended on this diet, whereas refined grains
and many fruits and vegetables (those with what the authors assume
to have a high glycemic index) are not allowed. The menus are high
in fat and cholesterol with cheese, eggs, butter, yogurt, and cream
not restricted in the meal plans. These foods squeeze out others
that are higher in fiber and lower in fat, leading to Sugar Busters'
low rating.
* * *
Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution by Robert Atkins, M.D.
ZERO STARS—Unsafe
The sample menus were low in complex carbohydrates, fruits, and
vegetables. Only during the "maintenance menu" stage are readers
permitted to consume anywhere near the recommended intake of fruits
and vegetables. On this diet, the day begins with eggs fried in
butter with bacon and then moves onto a chef salad with ham, chicken,
cheese, and eggs for lunch, and a dinner of seafood salad and poached
salmon. This menu, far from being low in fat, low in cholesterol,
or high in fiber, is not a healthy approach to long-term weight
loss.
* * *
The Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program by Richard Heller,
Ph.D., and Rachael Heller, Ph.D.
ZERO STARS—Unsafe
Menus were not based on complex carbohydrates and were sorely lacking
in fruit. Menus were also very high in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.
Menu items like the "Smooth and Cheesy-Good Omelet" (made with 4
eggs and ¼ cup cream cheese) and "Hamburgers with Dill" (2 pounds
ground round with 2 teaspoons olive oil) are not recipes for good
health.
Weight Loss Book Review
| Program |
Min. 25 grams of fiber |
Fruits and Veggies |
Low in Choles-terol |
Low in Fat |
Low in Saturated Fat |
| The McDougall Program for Maximum Weight Loss |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| Eat More, Weigh Less |
* |
* |
|
* |
* |
| Dr. Shapiro's Picture Perfect Weight Loss |
* |
* |
|
* |
* |
| Eating Well for Optimum Health |
* |
* |
|
* |
* |
| Dieting for Dummies (ADA) |
|
* |
|
* |
* |
| The Soy Zone |
* |
* |
|
|
* |
| Weight Watchers: New Complete Cookbook |
|
* |
|
* |
* |
| Body for Life |
|
|
|
* |
* |
| Sugar Busters! |
|
* |
|
|
* |
| Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution |
|
|
|
|
|
| The Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program |
|
|
|
|
|
Rating scale:
A five-star rating scale, based on the recommended diet as reflected
in a sample menu for a full day.
One star each for:
- High fiber: Minimum of 25 grams of fiber per day
- Fruits and Veggies: At least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables
- Low cholesterol: Less than 50 milligrams of cholesterol per
day
- Low fat: Less than 30 percent of calories from fat
- Low saturated fat: Less than 10 percent of calories from saturated
fat
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