“No-carb” diets claim to be fast, easy and effective, causing dieters of all sizes, including ISU students, to jump on the no-carb bandwagon.

The South Beach Diet, Atkins diet and Protein Power are diets that limit consumption of carbohydrates.

Developed by Miami cardiologist Arthur Agatston, The South Beach Diet consists of eating what are considered the right fats and right carbohydrates, which differs from the popular Atkins diet that allows virtually no carbohydrates, according to the South Beach Diet Web site, www.southbeachdiet.com.

Dieters eat normal-size servings of meat, poultry and fish. They may also eat fruit, whole grains, eggs, cheese, nuts and vegetables. For the first two weeks of the program, carbohydrates are limited, but after this two-week period, carbohydrates are allowed back in the diet in moderation. For the second phase dieters are allowed more choices, including whole wheat bread and other selected carbohydrates. South Beach followers claim to have lost between 8 and 13 pounds in the first two weeks.

South Beach Dieters have extensive online assistance, as they may log in and have access to weight trackers, shopping lists and meal plans. Dieters keep an online diary of their progress and can view the progress of other dieters. According to Publishers Weekly, Agatston’s book “The South Beach Diet,” holds the number one spot on the New York Times Best Seller List for hardcover nonfiction and more than 1.2 million copies of the book have currently been printed.

According to the Atkins diet Web site, atkins.com, the Atkins Nutritional Approach, also known as the Atkins diet, was brought onto the dieting scene in 1972, when Dr. Robert C. Atkins published his first book, “Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution.”

The Atkins diet promotes itself as a lifestyle.

Krystle Kruse, senior in elementary education, recently started the Atkins diet.

“I have had good results with the diet, and it’s easy to follow. I feel that with this diet, compared to others, I have more energy during the day and don’t feel as hungry all the time,” Kruse said.

Four phases complete the diet, with the first phase limiting the dieter to 20 grams of carbohydrates a day. For example, one 2.5 ounce bagel has 38 grams of carbohydrates.

In the second and third phases, more carbohydrates are allowed. Carbohydrates are added in five to ten gram increments until the weight loss stops.

Andrea Breckenridge, senior in apparel merchandising, design and production, said she has been following the diet since early April.

“At first it was a little difficult to follow, because of the low levels of carbohydrates that you can have each day, but now that I am this far I can eat a pretty normal level of carbohydrates each day, so that makes it much easier,” Breckenridge said.

The Atkins diet promotes the consumption of foods in the form of protein. Meat, poultry, cheese and eggs are acceptable in all phases and are heavily encouraged.

Diane Lahodny, owner of Campbell’s Nutrition Store in Des Moines, said she does not recommend the Atkins Diet.

“Because of the large increase in osteoporosis and obesity in the United States, everyone should modify their intake of carbohydrates and sugar, but completely cutting out whole food groups with beneficial nutrients cannot be healthy,” Diane said.

Diane recommended interested college students follow a modified version of the low-carbohydrate diets. “This should include restrictions of products such as bread, rice, flour, potatoes and sugar. Students should concentrate on eating a variety of vegetables, but modify their fruit intake because [fruits] are so high in sugar,” she said.

Issues surrounding high cholesterol and blood pressure levels have been addressed in the United States for many years and are a factor to be considered when following a high protein diet.

Diane’s husband, Rod Lahodny, owner of Therapy Services of Iowa in Des Moines and Altoona Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine in Altoona, has seen good results with his patients who are on the Atkins diet and strictly follow it.

“The effectiveness of the Atkins diet is on changing your entire lifestyle. The problems my patients have experienced is when they begin eating carbohydrates again, the weight comes right back on,” Rod said.

Forty-five percent of women and 25 percent of men are on a diet at any given time, and Americans spend more than $32 billion dollars on weight-loss products and services each year.