What is it?
The Dukan Diet is a method created by French physician Pierre Dukan aimed at weight loss. The diet consists of a low-calorie eating plan that restricts carbohydrate-rich foods while allowing the consumption of fats and proteins. The method includes different phases and a list of permitted foods. Its maintenance is difficult and can lead not only to frustrations but also to health complications.
Does the Dukan Diet Work for Weight Loss?
According to the Brazilian Association for the Study of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (ABESO, 2016), the weight loss promoted by diets high in fats and proteins and low in carbohydrates occurs mainly due to the lower calorie intake rather than solely the macronutrient composition.
The Dukan Diet has a poor prognosis for maintaining weight loss. On average, only 5% of individuals who undergo a weight loss process manage to prevent regaining the weight within 5 years. This cycle of losing and regaining weight, also known as the “yo-yo effect,” is quite detrimental to our health. In addition to the natural adaptations our bodies undergo to conserve energy, behavioral factors also render the adoption of this diet unsustainable in the long term.
Diets that restrict carbohydrates without professional guidance and individualized monitoring can cause various health issues. When the body adapts to obtain energy from another source—since the carbohydrate source has been restricted—it may lead to the breakdown of muscle reserves and a decrease in body water. The loss of water and electrolytes may reflect a lower number on the scale, but not an actual reduction in fat. Usually, when carbohydrate consumption is resumed, as it is eventually planned, the weight is quickly regained.
Furthermore, weight loss is different from slimming down. Even during the slimming process, it is important to ensure the minimum recommended intake of energy and nutrients to prevent loss of lean mass, dehydration, and other health damages. When comparing the Dukan Diet with well-established nutritional recommendations from authorities such as the World Health Organization, this method does not meet the nutrient requirements recommended for the general population. Moreover, the Dukan Diet does not indicate the use of supplements to meet micronutrient needs, which may also signal neglect regarding potential deficiencies.
Weight loss is a process that can be achieved through different strategies; however, what determines the success of a strategy is the duration of maintaining a reduced weight in a healthy manner.
What Are the Phases of the Dukan Diet?
The diet is divided into four phases, known as:
- The Attack Phase, lasting seven consecutive days;
- The Cruise Phase, lasting until the weight loss goal is reached;
- The Consolidation Phase, lasting ten days of consolidation for each kilogram lost during the previous phases;
- And finally, the Maintenance Phase for an indefinite period. This phase still requires one day per week to be dedicated exclusively to protein consumption.
Does the Dukan Diet Present Any Risks?
The Dukan Diet does not offer health benefits; on the contrary, the risks are numerous.
Adhering to diets promoted in the media without proper scientific foundations can lead to frustrations and health damages due to the excessive or insufficient consumption of nutrients.
The restricted intake of calories and carbohydrates, high consumption of proteins and fats, and deficiency in vitamins and minerals can lead to the onset or worsening of health complications such as: anemia; stroke; liver cirrhosis; high cholesterol; gallstones; cardiovascular complications; colon cancer; dyslipidemia; decreased cardiac output; lower heart rate; lower blood pressure; reduced immunity; bone demineralization; imbalances in bodily functions; coronary artery disease; diabetes mellitus; hypertension; osteoporosis; obesity; potassium deficiency; liver overload; and kidney overload.
Conclusion
The Dukan Diet does not meet the nutritional recommendations set by recognized health organizations. This diet also does not show good results for the goal of weight loss.
Restricting foods without the guidance and supervision of a professional is not recommended for anyone. In fact, some people may be more predisposed to serious complications due to the restrictions or excesses that a diet like this promotes.
For an adequate intake of calories and nutrients, individual energy needs must be considered. It is also necessary to consider preferences, availability, and the social and cultural aspects of eating, in order to then develop a balanced and healthy eating plan that is sustainable in the long term and meets real objectives.
BRAZ, Thayanne Silva. Nutritional Analysis of the Diets of Dr. Atkins and Dr. Dukan. 2017. 20 pages. Undergraduate Article – Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Centro Universitário de Brasília, Brasília, 2017.