Atkins diet group defends link with schools

Atkins Nutritionals today announced that it would take its diet plan directly into America’s schools, after teaming up with education groups.

Atkins insisted that it would not be urging children to follow its controversial low-carbohydrate, high-protein regime.

But fears have been raised that Atkins is trying to target new customers from an early age.

Atkins Nutritionals said it would partner up with four major US education groups, including the National Education Association, the USA’s largest teachers union.

The group is helping pay for an NEA website for teachers and students and it is working with school nurses in New York.

Atkins is also underwriting a publication on childhood obesity for state education policy makers.

But the close ties between a commercial company and schools has raised concerns.

Gary Ruskin, of Commercial Alert, said Atkins was “using the moral authority of the schools” to market the diet to families.

In the past Coca-Cola and Krispy Kreme doughnuts have teamed up with education authorities, raising concerns about corporate influence on school children.

Atkins Nutritionals medical director, Stuart Trager, said: “Atkins Nutritionals does not market products to children, and we don’t advocate that children follow the Atkins Nutritional Approach unless doing so is prescribed by their personal physician.

“However, as a leader in nutrition information we believe it is important that we provide services and educational information.” He said the company would be providing information which “focuses on some of Dr Atkins’ basic precepts”.

This would include eating whole foods, whole grains, some fruits and vegetables, and a balance of healthy fats and protein.

It would also recommend taking exercise and “generally avoiding the so-called processed carbs”.

Atkins does, however, accept that its goal is to change the way Americans eat, including cutting carbs.

The diet was invented by Dr Robert Atkins, who died in a fall in New York in April 2003.

It encourages dieters to reduce their intake of carbohydrates, like bread and pasta, while eating more protein and fat.

The diet regime has become wildly popular, and an estimated three in 10 Americans have tried the diet.

Public health officials also raised concerns that by having more influence on schools, Atkins could confuse children and parents about good nutrition.

Government advice may conflict with some Atkins ideas, it was warned.

“To all of a sudden have a school programme that’s telling them to eat more protein and less carbs is confusing,” said Melinda Sothern, director of paediatric obesity research at Louisiana State University.