Heed medical risks when considering Atkins

Dear Dr. Argo,
Does the Atkins diet really work? What, if any, are the health risks with this type of diet?
-- Diet Concerned

Dear Diet Concerned,
Much has been written about the controversial Atkins diet. While people have reported quick loss of weight at least in the initial stages of the diet, some potential medical concerns have been identified.
The Atkins plan basically holds that by reducing your intake of carbohydrates, your body burns fat as fuel, and this results in weight loss. However, there are a number of potential problems associated with this.
First, our brain relies on glucose for fuel, and glucose primarily comes from carbohydrates. So when you have fewer carbohydrates, you are reducing the amount of fuel for your brain. Also, strain may be put on the liver and kidneys.
People need to be aware of the potential to become dehydrated, to feel nauseated and fatigued, and to experience headaches, irritability and insomnia.
Also, for people with certain medical conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and kidney problems, this diet is not recommended. So yes, some health risks have been reported that you should be aware of.
One thing to remember is that it’s important not to start a diet without first consulting your doctor. This becomes particularly essential given the nature of the Atkins diet. Perhaps one of the most important questions to ask yourself is why you are trying to lose weight.
Is it because you are at an unhealthy weight, or is it because you feel a pressure to look a certain way? Often women and men try to lose weight because of social pressure.
For many, if they don’t look like the social ideal, they may develop a negative body image that contributes to lowered self-esteem.
A poor body image may lead to behaviors that are unhealthy, including crash dieting and over exercising.
I’d encourage anybody considering a diet to first ask the question “why am I doing this?” Also, there are resources available if you feel you need support figuring out some of these complicated issues. For help, contact the Counseling Center at 474-2420.
— Dr. Argo