George L. Blackburn, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Surgery and Nutrition, S. Daniel Abraham Chair in Nutrition Medicine, Associate Director of Nutrition, Division of Nutrition, Harvard Medical School; Director, Nutrition Support Service, Director, Center for the Study of Nutrition Medicine; Program Director, Surgical Therapy for Severe Obesity; Chief, Nutrition Metabolism Laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston
Judy C.C. Phillips, MS, RD Program Manager, Center for Nutritional Research Charitable Trust; Content Manager, Centers for Obesity Research and Education,Wellesley, MA
Susan Morreale, CHES Project Manager, Center for Nutritional Research Charitable Trust; Program Coordinator, Centers for Obesity Research and Education,Wellesley, MA
Address: George L. Blackburn, MD, PhD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 1 Autumn Street, Kennedy 152, Boston, MA 02215; gblackbu@caregroup.harvard.edu
ABSTRACT
Low-carbohydrate weight-loss diets are very popular, but the recommendations of many of these diets are diametrically opposed to those put forth by the US Department of Agriculture, the American Heart Association, and other national organizations. Their focus on foods high in protein, fat, and cholesterol has potentially serious health implications. Physicians need to be knowledgeable about the efficacy of these programs and to talk to overweight patients about weight loss.
