TheAgitator.com
The First Atkins Suit
Thursday, May 27th, 2004So by now you’ve probably read about the guy who’s suing Atkins for the high cholesterol he says was caused by the high-protein, high-fat diet.
It’s tripe.
Turns out, the guy responded to a newspaper ad put out by a nasty little group called the Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine. PCRM went trawling for litigants to take on Atkins not because the group cares much about high cholesterol, but because they’re a front group for the radical animal rights movement. Atkins encourages copious consumption of meat and diary, which obviously draws ire from the animal-lovin’ crowd.
PCRM was also the organization that leaked Robert Atkins’ private medical file to the media after he died, in an effort to smear his name and stem the diet’s popularity.
Read all about it here.
The suit comes at an awkward time. This week, two new studies — while mixed on whether Atkins’ dieters lose weight faster than conventional dieters — did show that Atkins dieters had higher HDL (”good”) cholesterol rates than conventional dieters, and lower LDL (”bad”) rates when the studies were completed. These two studies follow up two others in the last year showing similar results.
The other odd thing about the suit is that it’s demanding warning labels on Atkins products. But most Atkins products aren’t really high-fat. The stuff you buy with the Atkins label tends to be processed goodies that replaces the things you miss when you cut back on carbs — substitute bread mix, pancake mix, barbecue sause, or ketchup, for example. I suppose there is an assortman of ice creams, candy bars, and chocolate syrups made by Atkins that could be outfitted with a warning. Seems rather silly, though.
The high-fat components of Atkins are everyday items you buy at the grocery store — eggs, meat, cheese, dairy, and butter.
Do we put warning labels on eggs and cheese for the few people who might be buying them because of Atkins? And what would they say?
I’d like to see the folks at Atkins respond with a brutal countersuit against the plaintiff, the lawyers that perpetuated this crap, and the idiot doctor who told this moron that Atkins is the cause of his heart disease.
Every single legitimate study has debunked the bogus myth about Atkins causing increased rates of heart disease. The cholesterol link has been explained completely, and even the arguments about fat intake have been dealt with.
Here’s something that’s far more dangerous than an Atkins Diet: An extra 50 to 100 lbs of fat packed around your heart… If Atkins works (and it does) then legitimate health professionals should be cheering.
The one argument that can’t be dealt with in a study is the whiny cow-huggers who think that every time someone serves Prime Rib that they must be guilty of murder.
Whenever I read stories like these, I make sure to serve veal for dinner…
Look on the bright side. At least, with his sudden death, Atkins’ legacy is spared the embarrassing possibility of a deathbed request to a nurse for three potatoes, which would be denied.
Brian –
Ha ha ha. Good one.
I don’t like the Atkins diet – or rather, I really, really like carbs. And exercise – or rather, endorphines. Seriously, I think the Atkins is discipline for the sake of discipline, and many dieters get a little cultish. That doesn’t make this lawsuit any less stupid – or rather, brilliant. Eat all the shit you want, and get paid for it.
Sometimes being pro-personal responsibility isn’t very fiscally responsible, if you know what I mean.
Do we put warning labels on eggs and cheese
Yes, label them DELICIOUS!
When I read the title of this post, I fully expected to see a garment made from hamburger patties and fried eggs.
So disappointed…so very disappointed.
“Do we put warning labels on eggs and cheese”
Well, we already put warning labels on coffee telling people that it might be hot, on peanut butter, telling people that it may contain peanuts, etc. How long do you think it will be before there are warning labels on eggs, cheese, milk, meat?
How long do you think it will be before there are warning labels on eggs, cheese, milk, meat?
Why don’t we just put a big fuckin’ sign at the front of the store that says “Eating food, or not eating food, may be hazardous to your health”?
Bloody hell, it’s not just certain foods. Anything in excess is bad. As I was saying elsewhere, that Morgan Spurlock guy who did that Supersize Me propeganda flick, he ate 5000+ cals a day, and cut out all physical activity. But he would have also gained weight and become unhealthy if he had simply eaten 5000+ calories’ worth of carrot sticks and apples, and still cut out all activity. It’s common fucking physiological sense: if you take in 5000 cals, and only burn 1000, you are going to get fat.
So, what, do we actually need to TELL people “eating too much and not exercising enough can be hazardous to your health”? Ugh.
I’m trying to picture how many pounds of carrots it would take to provide 5000+ net calories, and the mind boggles…
Bob – you’re the best.
I laughed aloud.
I do atkins, I lost 30 pounds. Apparently, at least according to the media, EVERYTHING IS BAD FOR YOU. Even the sun.