Low-carb diets in Australia: National survey causes concern for health experts

A new national study has found 2.5 million Australians (nearly one in five) have tried or intend to try a low-carbohydrate diet.

The research*, conducted by Newspoll, revealed there is some confusion over which foods are carbohydrates. It also found 7 in 10 Australians are not aware of the amount of carbohydrate-based foods - such as bread, breakfast cereal, rice and pasta - recommended for a healthy diet.

The findings are of concern to health experts who say celebrity-endorsed slimming schemes and constant new diet crazes are harming the average consumer's judgement when choosing which foods they should eat day to day.

Dr Tim Crowe, from the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research at Deakin University in Melbourne, said these results should send a warning bell to Australian health authorities.

“If people are confused about the basics of healthy and nutritious food, and if they can't correctly identify which foods are carbohydrates, they're going to have trouble choosing the right foods for themselves and their family,” Dr Crowe said.

“In low-carb diets fruit, bread, cereal and vegetables are the bad guys because they contain carbohydrate. If you cut them out you're at risk of serious health problems.

“Short term problems with low-carb diets include feeling run down and low on energy, constipation, dehydration and bad breath. But more serious complications such as osteoporosis, kidney damage, cholesterol, cancer, heart rhythm disturbances and sudden death can all be linked to long-term restriction of carbohydrate foods,” Dr Crowe said.

Carbo confusion

The Newspoll survey, conducted last month, revealed some confusion surrounding the identity, and recommended amount of carbohydrate foods in a balanced diet.

When asked, 9 in 10 Australians correctly identified bread and pasta as carbohydrate foods, and 8 in 10 correctly said rice and breakfast cereals were carbohydrates.

Worryingly, however, only one third of Australians knew that lollies (35% of those surveyed) and soft drinks (34%) were part of this food group, and one in five mistakenly thought cheese (20%) and eggs (18%) were carbohydrate foods.

Half of all Australians believe carbohydrate foods, such as bread, breakfast cereal, rice and pasta, should make up only a quarter, or less, of the daily diet. The reality, however, is that about half of a person's diet should be carbohydrate-based foods such as these to maintain health and prevent disease.

Ms Trish Griffiths, Accredited Practising Dietitian and manager of the Go Grains nutrition education program, said many people are confused and may be cutting out the wrong carbohydrate foods.

“Based on the Newspoll results, some may even be dropping important foods such as eggs and dairy in the mistaken belief that they are carbohydrates. People should really be more concerned about balancing the total calories in their diet with regular exercise, rather than trying to exclude carbohydrates,” Ms Griffiths said.

Newspoll also found almost 70 percent of Australians believe a person who needs to lose weight should reduce their consumption of breads and breakfast cereals, rice and pasta (including 1 in 5 who believe these foods should be cut back ‘a lot').

“This shows that while not everyone will tackle a strict low-carb diet, many are trimming back on carbohydrate foods as a flow-on effect from the publicity over these fad diets. There's a real risk, as a nation, that we will develop unhealthy long-term dieting habits because of these mixed messages.

“Studies show that wholegrain foods can significantly reduce the risk heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. So we don't want to reduce the healthy, easy to recognise carbohydrate foods while others, such as lollies and soft drink, continue unchecked,” she said.

Who's tried low carb?

The Newspoll survey found most Australians (81 percent) have heard of the Atkins Diet or some other form of low carbohydrate diet. Thirteen percent of Australians have already tried a low-carbohydrate diet, and women were found to be more likely to have tried a low carbohydrate diet (19%) than men (8%).

“US figures show around 10 to 12 percent have tried a low-carb diet, however, people in both countries are still getting fatter, so it clearly isn't working,” Dr Crowe said.

The secret to successful weight loss

Dr Crowe said those who have the most success in losing weight and keeping it off:

• Follow a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet.

• Eat breakfast to control appetite during the day

• Weigh themselves regularly

• Keep active

* This Newspoll study was conducted by telephone in August 2004, among 1200 adults aged 18 years and over nationally.

To arrange an interview with:

• Dr Tim Crowe, Researcher and Lecturer in Nutrition and Metabolism, Deakin University

• Ms Trish Griffiths, Nutrition Services Manager at BRI Australia. Manager of Go Grains

Contact Owen Craig or Katrina Weir on (02) 9436 2088 or 0411 584 415

- Source: Go Grains