Atkins in other countries

[MommaRuthie]

In the United States the Atkins diet is generally not recommended and mostly scoffed at by doctors, media, and everyday folk. In your respective countries do you meet with the same erroneous garbage being spewed about the WOE or are you doctors more supportive? I ask because I happened to run into my MD yesterday at the grocer and she saw that I had lost a lot of weight and after she said that I looked great she asked me what I did and when I told her she told me I must stop and go back to eating a high carb diet with low fat and low meats. WHATEVER!!!!!!! I now am going to find another doctor. This is even after my cholesterol has dropped a total of 43 points!

would appreciate feedback from any of you non-US people
Maybe I will switch countries...

[Pam112]

Well, I did immigrate over to the UK but I think it's going to depend upon each individual doctor. At my weight, while my doctor will not jump for joy over what I'm doing, he's more concerned about the weight and the damage it's done that if I've lowered my carb intake.

By the same token, I was sent to a dietician here, (immigrant from Canada) and I hit her with the question of, "How come you put skinny people wanting to GAIN weight on the SAME type of diet you want to put fat people on to LOOSE weight?" In the end, she had to agree the reasoning and results were flawed. (high five, me!)

But... don't immigrate. The change in everything would cause a weight gain... seriously!! I mean, you can't move to a new country without trying all the goodies.

Hang in there and stand your ground. Best of luck in finding a better doc or at least one that you can tell to "shut up already!"

[Alexa]

Hi,

As Pam says the UK is not particularly Atkins friendly. I daren't tell my Dr tbh, I don't want the lecture.

Most people I know are quite anti. But not those that have tried it. However, I don't know anyone still on it, or that really did it properly.

[MommaRuthie]

thanks for the input. was just curious to see if other countries were more open minded...
Happy Eating!

[liv]

Although I think Canada is great and recommend anyone move here, if you are looking for more Atkins friendly doctors this is not the place either. But I think there are some to be found in any place. So if you want one you may have to shop around.

[SugarFreeSheila]

I've always received unanimous support from all of my doctors: my dermatologist (the best ones will tell you to avoid sugars and foods that cause inflammation), of course my endocrinologist and general practitioner who do my blood panels, gynecologist, and for obvious reasons, my dentist! The mistake a lot of people make with their doctors is just saying "Atkins," then dropping it. If they haven't read the book, they go by whatever the media feeds to them - and I fell prey to that myself prior to 2001. So, take a moment to describe what the program actually entails! This is what gets their approval.

While traveling abroad, which I do frequently, I just seem like a healthy eater with a big appetite - all I'm avoiding are sugars and starches here!

[stephbob]

Both my UK and US doctors have been "content" for me to be on Atkins. Notexactly thrilled, but happy that the results are doing me enough good to justify it.

My US doctor actually told my other half to follow my lead, because it will help him too.

I think some people will patiently take the time to think about it, rather than makea rash decision with no evidence to back it up, and to be honest, thats the kind of person I want as a doctor.

[sallyseachange]

Where I am (Italy) I get interest and curiosity... mainly because most Italians have never heard of Atkins. I don't get flak, but no one here ever believes they could follow a diet that doesn't include pasta and pizza! Lol.
My doc advocates low fat, in the main; but when I showed him my cholesterol numbers (menopausal high total, but a fantastic danger ratio) and asked him if in his opinion I could go on eating eggs, cream, bacon, pork, cheese etc (and plenty of veggies of course). he answered "absolutely yes!!". He was amazed.

[MommaRuthie]

thanks for all the replies everyone! I will not despair any longer

[Scribbler]

Here in Greece the situation is more like Italy's.. Usually Doctors go something like..so it is what we eat except for the starch and sugars right?... coming to think about it..in a broader sense that is all about it..