Study of Atkins Zone Ornish and LEARN Diets Means Little to MorbidlyObese Individuals Considering WeightLoss Surgery



A recent article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association discussed the results of a study designed to compare four weight-loss diets. Each diet represents a spectrum of low to high carbohydrate intakes.

Three hundred eleven nondiabetic, premenopausal women with BMIs (Body Mass Index) between 27 and 40 were randomly assigned to Atkins, Zone, Ornish, and LEARN diets. After one year, results showed that the Atkins group performed the best with a mean weight loss of 4.7 kg - Zone, LEARN and Ornish groups demonstrated 1.6 kg, 2.6 kg and 2.2 kg respectively.

While the results were positive, some doctors continue to warn against the effect that such media coverage could have on the super-obese population in America. Dr. Paul T. Cirangle of the Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco (LAPSF) commented, People who are overweight should realize that diets generally do not yield more than a 10 pound weight loss beyond 3 months. There are nine million morbidly obese people in America that are unable to lose more than 10-20 pounds through dieting alone. Weight loss surgery procedures, including Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Vertical Gastrectomy, Duodenal Switch and LapBand®, are reasonable and more effective options for these individuals. They will most likely cure their diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and improve their quality of life far beyond what they could do with dieting alone.

Ongoing research on the long-term health benefits of low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets, as well as various weight-loss surgeries, is currently underway. Doctors hope to provide Americans who suffer from obesity with the necessary insight to make informed decisions that will halt the spread of the epidemic.

About Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco:
Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco (LapSF) is a team of surgeons with a compassionate approach to patient care and a proven commitment to laparoscopic advancement for bariatric surgical procedures. Specializing in the four main bariatric procedures: roux-en-y gastric bypass, vertical gastrectomy, LapBand® and duodenal switch, LapSF has performed over 2,000 procedures, and is recognized by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) as a Center of Excellence.





Study of Atkins Zone Ornish and LEARN Diets Means Little to MorbidlyObese Individuals Considering WeightLoss Surgery