Does the beef industry have a position on popular high protein weight loss diets, such as the Atkins Diet?
During the last thirty years, advice to reduce calories for weight control has often focused on reducing calories from fat, which has often led to limitations on foods from the meat and dairy groups. Interestingly, as beef has gotten leaner and consumption has decreased among the U.S. population, the incidence of overweight/obesity has increased. This suggests that focusing on a single food or nutrient will not curb overweight/obesity in America. There needs to be a more holistic or behavioral approach to weight loss/maintenance that addresses lifestyle pattern and educates consumers about energy balance – matching caloric intake with level of physical activity. With that, it is imperative to educate consumers about how to choose foods from all food groups to insure optimal intake of nutrients. The beef industry supports continued research on the effectiveness and healthfulness of different diets with various combinations of protein, fat and carbohydrates. A recent review paper on the
