A new Stanford study pitted popular diet plans in a weight loss challenge and the Atkins diet came out on top, with participants losing about 10 lbs at 12 months. The other diets weighed in with more modest results: LEARN diet (5.7 lbs), Ornish (4.8 lbs) and the Zone (3.5 lbs). Btw, the study characterized the LEARN diet (Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitudes, Relationships, and Nutrition) as a low fat, high carbohydrate diet, based on national guidelines.

The Atkins diet also raised HDL (good cholesterol) and lowered triglycerides more than the other diets. The Ornish and Learn diets were the best at lowering LDL (bad cholesterol). Although the Atkins diet raised LDL initially, this effect was not statistically significant at 12 months. It’s not surprising participants were able to lose more weight with Atkins given that it is easier to follow than the others. Think about trying to adhere to the Ornish diet with the lack of vegetarian options on restaurant menus, our fast food culture and the overwhelming presence of processed foods found at your local supermarket.

While Atkins came out on top in this study, it did not measure any long term health consequences. Before you consider loading up on steak and heavy cream consider the findings of the China-Oxford-Cornell Diet and Health Project, a 20 year study on health and nutrition in China. Higher animal protein consumption was directly correlated with increasing rates of heart disease, osteoporosis and cancer.