Atkins and other low-carb diets seem to be all the rage but only about 13 percent of Britons have tried one and fewer than 3 percent are on them, according to a report.

A survey of 1,000 people by market research company Mintel found that exercise, rather than cutting carbs, is the preferred method of Britons who want to lose weight.

"While many consumers may have been attracted to the promise of rapid and significant weight loss, they have found it a difficult diet to stick to in the long term," said senior consumer analyst James McCoy.

Although low-carb diets have been around for some time, it was the Atkins diet, which includes a restricted intake of carbohydrates and high fat foods, that became popular with millions of people trying to lose weight.

"A number of dieters have not found this diet worked for them: it may be a question that they did not fully understand or trust the diet," McCoy added.

But Roger Spicer, managing director of Atkins UK, said there are more than 3 million people in Britain following its low-carb lifestyle.

"Our sales (of food and diet books) are buoyant. In fact, demand for low-carb products in the UK is growing as is illustrated by the increasing number of global companies entering this market," he said in a statement.

The survey, though, found Britons would prefer to do more exercise or to cut down on fats, chocolate and snacking between meals.

Clinical trials of low-carbohydrate diets have shown a greater weight loss at six months than low-fat or reduced calorie approaches in obese patients. But by 12 months there was no difference in patients on the different diets.

Health reasons, self esteem, wanting to look good for the summer and trying to fit into certain clothes were the most common reasons for people wanting to lose weight.

Reference Source 89
September 22, 2004

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