More Aussie dieters going low carb

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2004

It's official: low carb diets are catching on in Australia. A recent survey has uncovered some fascinating insights into national dieting and snacking habits.

Independent research team Roger James and Associates surveyed 300 dieting women nationwide and found that 26 percent had gone low carb in the past year, up from 18 percent the previous year. By contrast, the percentage of women on low-fat diets had dropped from 53 to 39 percent.

But sticking to either regime proved a challenge, according to survey results, with 65 percent dropping out within two months.

Other diet-related findings included:

Only 27 percent of all dieters achieved their weight loss goal before giving up, whether they followed a low-carb (27.2 percent success rate) or a low-fat regime (25.7 percent).
Whichever diet regime they followed, 52 percent of women reported that they gave up because staying on the diet was too hard.
Only a few women were found to have stopped dieting because they believed the diet itself was not working (5-6 percent).

Aussie Bodies CEO Maria Deveson Crabbe said that while many nutritionists condemned low-carb dieting, a reduced intake of refined carbohydrates (especially sugar) and increase in protein was a scientifically sound way to assist weight loss.

"By reducing carbohydrates, you stabilise your blood sugar levels which discourages fat storage. Protein has been proven to reduce hunger and boost metabolism," Deveson Crabbe said.

"Australian women are choosing to eat more protein and less refined carbohydrates as part of a healthy trend rather than because they are subscribing to the latest fad diet. Thankfully, good old Aussie scepticism has saved us yet again from becoming mesmerised by an overnight, extreme solution."

The findings also suggested that women were playing Jeckyll and Hyde with their health habits, claiming to maintain either a low fat or low carb lifestyle but snacking on unhealthy snacks, particularly later in the day.

Snacking highlights included:

88 percent of dieting women snacked between meals, with 68 percent insisting these snacks fitted in with their diet (biscuits/crackers, chocolates and salted snacks were their preferred options).
Those on diets were less likely to choose healthy snacks (24 percent) than those who were not (33 percent). For instance, 21 percent of current dieters ate chocolate in the afternoon compared with 9 percent of non-dieters.
36 percent of all dieters chose fruit, nuts or yoghurt as a morning snack but this declined to 16.6 percent by mid-afternoon. By then, 45.3 percent opted for chocolate, salted snacks, confectionery or cakes.

Deveson Crabbe said the findings suggest that dieting actually drove women to unhealthy eating.

"Most diets depend on some form of calorie restriction, which means they leave you hungry and craving – and the hungrier you become, the greater the likelihood that the next thing you reach for will be an unhealthy snack."

This tendency to self-sabotage, she said, was a critical factor explaining why most women fell off their diets.

"Weight loss strategies can only be successful if you work with your desires rather than fight against them. This is why Aussie Bodies developed the Trim range of foods and snacks which support whatever low carb diet you are on, without having to sacrifice the enjoyment that comes with snacking."

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