Hospitals ban Atkins diet Sep 28 2003
Caroline Wheeler, Sunday Mercury

About two million people in the UK are following the low-carbohydrate weight loss craze, which has already been linked to bowel cancer, heart disease and kidney failure.

Now hospital trusts in the region have said they will refuse to serve Atkins-style meals on their menus for patients who request it.

The news comes less than a week after the Food Standards Agency issued its first official health warning about high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets, which it claims can kill.

Following this, the University of Birmingham Hospital Trust has confirmed it is introducing a ban.

"Any specific dietary request from patients would be reviewed by our team of specialist dieticians, who would not endorse the Atkins diet," said a spokesman.

And Susan Price, the hospital's chief dietician, added: "I would not endorse the Atkins diet for anyone - whether they are fit and healthy or if they have recently been admitted to hospital.

"The Atkins Diet is renowned for its side-effects, which can include a feeling of weakness, nausea and dehydration, which wouldn't be helpful to someone who has not been well."

A spokesman for the Royal Wolverhampton Trust said they would also consult their own dietician if any Atkins diet requests were made.

"We consult our dietician on all dietary requests," she added.

"It would be up to them to make sure patients did not undertake any sort of diet that would compromise their condition."

Health chiefs at Birmingham Heartlands & Solihull NHS Trust, Dudley Group Of Hospitals NHS Trust and Good Hope Hospital NHS Trust said they would not encourage patients to under-take the Atkins diet.

And a spokesman for Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, said: "We cater for all sorts of tastes and diets, including halal, kosher, vegetarians, diabetics and vegans.

"But our dietician would not recommend that patients follow the Atkins diet while in hospital or at home."

Last week Sally Vickers was rushed into casualty when her body seized up only six days into the Atkins diet.

The 27-year-old from Northumberland was diagnosed as being dehydrated - a known complication of the diet - and put on a drip.

Her admission followed the death of 16-year-old American Rachel Huskey, who died from heart failure after trying to lose weight.

A team of experts who investigated her death said it was probably due to the way the Atkins diet had upset her metabolism.

The creator of the diet, American doctor Robert Atkins, believes carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, rice and starchy vegetables over-stimulate the production of insulin, resulting in hunger and weight gain.

The Atkins diet - a favourite with the stars - allows followers to eat liberal quantities of food high in protein and fats, particularly the saturated fats in animal and dairy products.

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