Australia Promotes Low Carb Consumer Awareness 37654

Australia Promotes Low Carb Consumer Awareness

MELBOURNE, AustraliaOn March 15, an Australian health ministerunveiled a new campaign to raise consumer awareness about the potential dangersof high-protein and other fad diets. The government in Victoria plans todistribute educational materials in doctors waiting rooms, gyms anduniversities. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) announced it supportedthe governments actions and hoped the countrys other states will follow.In the United States, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)is urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to followAustralias lead and also issue a warning about the dangers of high fat, lowcarbohydrate diets.

In an interview with Australias The World Today, Victoria HealthMinister Bronwyn Pike reported she was concerned about the popularity of lowcarb diets, particularly in the case of young women who may be very attracted byfad diets. [T]heres not a lot of good public information about thelong-term impact of these diets on peoples health, so I want to get postersand pamphlets into doctors [offices], university gyms and other places wherepeople might be interested in finding out about what works and what doesntwork when they want to lose weight, Pike said in the interview (www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2004/s1066361.htm).

Pike said the reported 32 million Americans estimated to be using low carbsdiets suggests the diet may be as popular in Australia. So, as healthminister, it is important to get information out about smoking and otherlifestyle issues [and] this is a big one, she said. Anything that has alongterm impact on peoples health finds its way eventually into our hospitalsystem. Maybe not now, but in years to come. [I]f we can stop people fromgetting involved in these kind of fad dietswhich not only can have physicalhealth risks, but are quite damaging to peoples mental healththen thatsa good policy for the health expenditure into the future.

PCRM sent a letter to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on March 19 reiteratingthe possible risks of high protein diets and recommended the United Statesfollow Australias lead. We commend the Australian health minister inVictoria for warning its citizens of the dangers of high fat, low carb diets,and urge Tommy Thompson to do the same, wrote Amy Joy Lanou, Ph.D., PCRMsnutrition director, in the letter (www.pcrm.org/news/issues040319_letter.html).

AMA President Bill Glasson, M.D., stated in a March 16 interview (www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/doc/WEEN-5X5UH9)that consumers need to be made aware of the importance of incorporating exerciseand a well-balanced diet into a healthy lifestyle. [I]ts all abouteducation not legislation, and its all about getting a balance in your diet,Glasson said.