13 Feb 2011
Nutritionists advise against the Dukan diet of no fat and drinking a lot of water
The Dukan diet that helped Kate Middleton's mother lose nearly 2kg in four days is unbalanced and potentially bad for health, doctors say.
Britain's Telegraph newspaper reported recently that Mrs Carole Middleton, whose daughter will wed Prince William in April, was on a diet of mostly cottage cheese and prawns – just so she can get in shape before the royal wedding.
But it is not just Mrs Middleton who has been seduced with the promise of a more slender body using the Dukan diet. Celebrities such as Gisele Bundchen and Jennifer Lopez have credited the diet for helping them shed their post-pregnancy weight.
The fad diet was created 10 years ago by French nutritionist Pierre Dukan. It puts one's dream weight within reach through a four-phase low-fat and protein-rich diet. Dieters are encouraged to exercise and also drink plenty of water to trick the body into thinking that it is full.
Kicking off with the Attack phase, dieters eat only protein-rich food such as lean meat, fish and eggs. No sugary food or carbohydrates such as bread or rice are allowed to ensure that the body starts burning fat instead of sugar for energy.
This initial phase is supposed to help dieters lose as much weight as they can before moving on to the Cruise phase, which alternates protein-rich days with days where some carbohydrates are allowed.
However, only complex carbohydrates such as wholemeal bread and oats, which have more fibre, are allowed. White bread, which is high in calories, must be avoided.
The last two phases, Consolidation and Stabilisation, are meant to prevent weight gain after rapid weight loss in the first two phases. Dieters do not have to restrict themselves to cutting out carbohydrates and sugars but they should make healthier diet choices, such as eating lean meat, fish, low-fat dairy, vegetables and fruit.
Weekly treats, as a form of reward for keeping to the diet, are allowed.
According to Singapore General Hospital's obesity and metabolic unit director Dr Daniel Wai, the Dukan diet is similar to the better-known Atkins diet, except that the Dukan diet restricts the intake of fat while the Atkins diet does not.
However, he says such no-fat and low-carbohydrate diets are "undesirable" as they can result in the loss of important vitamins in the long run.
Such nutrients include Vitamin D and calcium, which can lead to loss in bone mass, and Vitamin B, which can lead to muscle weakness and nerve damage.
Raffles Hospital senior dietitian Nehal Kamdar says fad diets tend to be difficult to follow as people usually start to get "cravings for old treats and the chances of going back to the old habits of eating increase".
She adds that such diets can negatively affect the body's metabolism as the body needs a healthy amount of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and calories.
"When the body senses that you have lowered your calorie intake drastically, it will begin to conserve your energy by storing it in your fat cells," she explains. This, in turn, lowers one's metabolic rate.
As for how Mrs Middleton shed nearly 2kg in four days, Changi General Hospital's chief dietitian Magdalin Cheong says that is an unhealthy amount of weight to lose in such a short time span.
She recommends a more healthy weight-loss rate of between 0.5kg and 1kg a week. She says excessive weight loss over a short period of time is unhealthy and can be potentially harmful.
She also questions the diet's recommendation of drinking water to fill the stomach. "If one misses out on meals and tries to curb hunger by drinking water, the individual will not have sufficient calories and may fall sick," she says.
Mrs Cheong says a healthy and balanced diet with essential nutrients, low-calorie foods coupled with exercise is still the best method to shed the kilos.
"This method cultivates a healthy eating habit, which lasts and lessens the risk of unwanted weight gain in the future."
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Dept of Dietetics & Nutrition Services
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