Chapter Twenty UNCONVENTIONAL DIETS Flashcards
What was the initial reaction to a high-fat, high-protein diet unrestricted in calories?
It seemed to oppose the prevailing theory of obesity and principles basic to biological sciences
Alfred Pennington noted the puzzlement it produced, which stimulated thought on the matter.
According to Jane Brody, what helps people lose weight on a high-fat, high-protein diet?
Elimination of many carbohydrate-rich foods, leading to fewer calorie consumption
Foods like bread, pasta, and sugary drinks are typically eliminated.
List the three kinds of writers of news according to A. J. Liebling.
- The reporter, who writes what he sees
- The interpretive reporter, who writes what he sees and its meaning
- The expert, who writes what he construes to be the meaning of what he hasn’t seen
What issue does the conflict between expertise and observational evidence present in the science of obesity?
Experts’ opinions often overshadow eyewitness testimony from those with weight problems
The assumption that obesity is a psychological disorder affects credibility.
What was Blake Donaldson’s conclusion regarding fatty meat in treating obesity?
Fatty meat should be the essential part of any reducing routine
This conclusion was based on discussions with anthropologists about prehistoric diets.
What dietary regimen did Donaldson prescribe to his obese patients?
Half-pound of fatty meat per meal, prohibiting sugar, flour, alcohol, and starches
Allowed a small portion of raw fruit or a potato daily.
What was the average weight loss experienced by patients on Donaldson’s diet?
Two to three pounds a week without experiencing hunger
Donaldson attributed non-weight loss to ‘cheating’ due to addiction to starches.
How did Pennington’s experience with Donaldson’s diet impact his practice?
He began prescribing the diet to his patients after personal success
Pennington had worked for E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company.
What were the results of Pennington’s diet trial among DuPont executives?
Executives lost between nine and fifty-four pounds, averaging nearly two pounds a week
They reported a lack of hunger and increased energy.
What was JAMA’s stance on Pennington’s high-fat diet?
They claimed calorie restriction was the only legitimate way to induce weight loss
They warned that the high-fat diet could increase weight and health hazards.
What did George Thorpe argue about semi-starvation diets?
They inevitably fail because they lead to wasting of all body tissues
He experienced rapid weight loss without hunger on Pennington’s diet.
What did the first confirmation of Pennington’s diet come from?
Observations by dietitians Margaret Ohlson and Charlotte Young
They published their findings in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Fill in the blank: According to Pennington, patients experienced increased _______ and sense of well-being.
physical energy
True or False: The Lancet initially supported Pennington’s high-fat diet.
False
They initially dismissed it, claiming low-calorie intake was the best way to restore body composition.
What was the calorie limit set by Ohlson’s version of Pennington’s diet?
Fourteen to fifteen hundred calories a day
This diet consisted of 24% protein, 54% fat, and 22% carbohydrates.
What were the results of Ohlson’s initial low-fat diet trial on four overweight young women?
Zero, six, seven, and seventeen pounds lost
Subjects reported a lack of ‘pep’ and were conscious of being hungry.
In Ohlson’s trial, what was the average weight loss for women on the carbohydrate-restricted diet?
Almost three pounds weekly
Compared to a half-pound a week for the low-fat diet.
What did Ohlson’s subjects report regarding their feelings on the high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet?
A feeling of well-being and satisfaction; hunger was not a problem
What did Ohlson observe about the body composition of her subjects on high-fat diets?
They appeared to add muscle or lean-tissue mass
This was contrary to expectations from low-protein and balanced semi-starvation diets.
What was the average weight loss for Charlotte Young’s subjects on Ohlson’s diet?
Nearly two pounds per week
Subjects reported not feeling hungry during the diet.
What significant outcome did Young report from her trial with male students?
Average weight loss of almost three pounds each week
Weight loss exceeded expectations based solely on calorie reduction.
What type of trials were Ohlson’s and Young’s studies lacking?
Randomized, well-controlled trials
Needed to establish diet efficacy in extending life or preventing chronic disease.
What did William Leith find in his clinical experience with Pennington’s diet?
Satisfactory weight loss may be accomplished by a full caloric, low carbohydrate diet
Patients ingested protein and fat as desired.
What was a common belief among nutritionists about weight-reducing diets until recently?
They were not worth testing
Focus was on physiological and psychological abnormalities related to obesity.