Some students who are looking to lose weight find it difficult to ignore diet books and programs that guarantee rapid weight loss.

One of the more popular diets focuses on eating protein and eliminating carbohydrates, but local nutrition experts said the diet, known as the “Power Protein Plan” or the “Atkins Diet,” is not only ineffective but unsafe.

One of the main problems with the diet is the effect it can have on the kidneys, said Doug Lewis, associate professor of food science and human nutrition.

“If there is an increase of protein, there must also be an increase in water intake to help the kidneys function with more protein,” he said.

The Protein Power Plan Web site states that dieters can “lose two pant or dress sizes in 30 days or less guaranteed” by eating high-protein foods such as steak, eggs, cheese and real butter.

Anita Turczynski, dietitian for ISU Dining Services, said dieters should always be suspicious of a program that promotes eating only one specific type of food.

“Because of the increased cholesterol and stress on the kidneys in a high-protein diet, nobody should stay on a diet like this long,” Turczynski said.

Lewis said long-term problems with the high-protein diet include higher cholesterol, as well as increased risk of cancer, heart disease and kidney problems. He said although the diet would work for a short time, the long-term risks outweigh the possible gains.

“Like any other diet, the protein diets have only short-term effects,” he said. “They present some health risks in some people, and this diet isn’t a permanent fix.”

Lewis said in his experience, a high-protein diet does not always work, even for a short while.

“Most people don’t see spectacular results in the diet,” he said. “Studies show that people who maintain weight loss do so by increasing energy expenditure, by exercising.

“People see other people on the protein diet losing weight and think it will work the same for them. They don’t see the people who have been on the diet and are back to their original weight or beyond it,” Lewis said.

Turczynski said she would not recommend the diet to students because of its lack of variety and emphasis on exercise.

“Diets such as this are very limited in how they get their calories,” she said. “I wouldn’t recommend a diet like this but rather suggest the person exercise more and eat from all the food groups.”