Carb-cutting phase hits the Hill

Whether you're a card-carrying member of the freshman-fifteen club, battling a secret addiction to Carmichael's Oreo pies, or are still recovering from Christmas dinner, chances are you have at one point entertained the idea of dieting.

You're not alone. With the increasing popularity of low-carbohydrate plans like the Atkins and South Beach diets, the low-carb craze has made its way to college campuses in general -- and "the Hill" in particular.

"It's hard to quantify exactly how many students are adhering to the diet," Julie Lampie, Nutrition Marketing Specialist for Dining Services, said. "However, from recent dining hall inventory reports, we know it has some support among students. Bread and dessert consumption is down - in particular, the white bread."

Manager for the Campus Center Commons Kevin Chin has noticed a similar shift in consumption trends. "At Jumbo Express, more students are going after the protein power bars, specifically the Odwalla bars," he said.

Both the Atkins and South Beach diets rely on similar phase-by-phase plans. According to the Atkins website, the cornerstone of the Atkins philosophy is a four-phase eating plan. Phase one is heavily restrictive of carbs and is focused on immediate weight loss, while phase four allows more leeway and is focused on "lifetime maintenance."

The South Beach Diet website claims that its similar three-phase regimen is not low-fat or low-carb, but rather teaches you to rely on the 'right carbs' and 'right fats.' Though such carb-cutting, protein-pushing diets seem to be gaining momentum, nutritionists and health officials from Tufts remain cautious.

"We are happy when people are thinking about their health and looking to make good choices," Health Services Director Michelle Bowdler said. "When we get concerned is when people might take it to a degree that's not in their best interest. I advise students to come in [to Health Services] and talk it over with someone before trying any type of extreme food plan."

According to Bowdler, such diets may yield rapid weight loss, but they are not necessarily healthy. "To disregard an entire food group and label these foods as 'bad' foods is worrisome to me," Bowdler said. "Students' bodies are still changing and growing, so it's really important to maintain moderation and balance."

Health Services Medical Director Margaret Higham added that "the Atkins diet excludes whole grains, fruits and vegetables." As well as eliminating such vital foods, she said, the diet could lead to potential health problems.

"You feel bad and often get headaches," Higham said. "Further, without carbohydrates, your body is forced to burn fat, a condition known as ketosis, which increases the acid level in the bloodstream and can overload the kidneys. I have seen college students develop kidney failure."

"If you follow the diet strictly, it can be very high in saturated fat because of all the protein consumed," Lampie said. "A diet high in such fat can raise one's risk for coronary disease, diabetes, stroke, and certain forms of cancer."

The diet, therefore, is far from perfect where broader health is concerned. "We live in a culture of instant gratification," Higham said. "People want a quick fix, and there isn't one."

Despite the health risks, students are willing to try low-carb diets. "You don't have to eat less, which makes it appealing to anybody," senior Carrie Postel said.

Sophomore Julia Clark, who is currently on the South Beach Diet, is happy with her results so far. "I love it and feel so much healthier," she said. "I'm so much more health conscious now and know that the South Beach is a legitimate diet that works."

Though living on campus has presented some obstacles, Clark says the diet is easy to maintain. "I think there should be more options in the dining halls with better-quality salad bars like the ones in the commons," she said. "Also, Jumbo Express does not carry more than one or two items that are actually healthy for you and aren't loaded with sugar."

A senior who wished to remain nameless also tried the South Beach diet, but got mixed results. "I was on the South Beach Diet, and in the first two weeks, I lost five or six pounds," she said. "But then I quit because I felt there was something wrong with completely depriving myself of carbs."

Junior Brian Swaim agreed: "I don't think I could last - I like steak and cheese calzones too much," he said.

Other students shy away from the diets for non-weight related reasons. "Now that there's mad cow disease and salmon is toxic, what the hell are people supposed to eat?" senior Karen Stern said. "I'm an angry carnivore over here."