The Best Way to Diet: Choose the Safe Way

When it comes to diets, you can pretty much take your pick. High protein, low carb, low fat. The trouble is knowing which ones are effective. Some of the most famous diet gurus gathered for a forum

Thursday, February 24th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

When it comes to diets, you can pretty much take your pick. High protein, low carb, low fat. The trouble is knowing which ones are effective. Some of the most famous diet gurus gathered for a forum in Washington Thursday. It didn't do much to clear up the confusion.

With obesity a growing problem and weight loss a national obsession, its not surprising diet books sell by the millions. But do these diets work? Are they healthy? Who can you believe?

So confusing, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman invited the creators of the nations competing diets to to hash it out. Cardiologist and diet-guru Robert Atkins swears by his high-protein, low-carbohydrate plan. It encourages dieters to eat meat while avoiding pasta and fruit. â€œMore weight is lost on low-carb diets than on balanced diets identical in calories,â€ Atkins said.

Not if you ask internist Dean Ornishauthor of Eat More, Weigh Less. Ornish insists an extremely low-fat diet with limited protein is best.

So which is best choice? The spaghetti, the steak or the salad? The American Heart Association says theyâ€™re all good. The key is moderation and avoiding extreme diets that leave out major food groups. â€œNo one or two food groups gives you an adequate, balanced nutrition,â€ said American Heart Association spokesperson Dr. Barbara Howard. â€œAnd you canâ€™t substitute it with supplements.â€

Howard calls all the popular diets fairy tales. The key to weight loss may not be sexy, she says. But it is simple. Eat a balanced diet, cut calories slowly and exercise more. Most nutritionists warn-this takes time. But its the safest way to lose weight and keep it off.