Atkins vs. Slim-Fast

Television advertisements, books and popular culture propose many solutions for rapid and easy weight loss. The Atkins Diet -- also called the Atkins Nutritional Approach -- offers one such proposal, as does the Slim-Fast brand. If you cannot decide which of these two weight-loss programs is right for you, it helps to understand their key differences. Consult your physician before beginning any restrictive dietary regimen.

The Atkins Nutritional Approach emphasizes lower consumption of carbohydrate and higher consumption of fat and protein. During the first phase of Atkins, known as Induction, dieters consume as few as 20 g of carbohydrate per day in an effort to achieve "ketosis," a process in which the body burns fat for energy. According to Atkins, this results in rapid weight loss and greater overall health. As dieters advance to subsequent phases of the diet, they gradually increase their carbohydrate intake but continue to emphasize protein and fat.

Slim-Fast is primarily a line of nutritional supplements and meal replacements. While Atkins does produce a line of supplements and snacks, these are secondary to its nutritional approach. With Slim-Fast, the reverse is true. Rather than base the products on the plan, Slim-Fast bases the plan on the products. Slim-Fast encourages you to develop a daily plan based on your unique nutritional goals, using the "Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Plan": three snacks, two shakes or meal bars, and one 500-calorie meal a day. The Slim-Fast website enables you to enter your personal information to receive a tailor-made nutritional plan.

Atkins and Slim-Fast both emphasize weight loss, and both encourage you to eat about six small meals a day. Both plans target fat loss but place little to no emphasis on muscle growth, meaning they do not provide the best options for fitness buffs and rigorous weight trainers. Both plans require a lot of self-discipline due to their rigid dietary restrictions, but some people find Atkins more difficult and others find Slim-Fast more difficult. For example, meat lovers find Atkins less restrictive, while sweet lovers have a much easier time with the Slim-Fast plan.

The Slim-Fast 3-2-1 plan is not a low-carb diet; Atkins is. The Slim-Fast plan strives to achieve weight loss through caloric restriction, and each Slim-Fast meal replacement and supplement derives its calories from carbohydrates as well as protein and modest amounts of fat. The Atkins Nutritional Approach does not restrict calories. It restricts only carbohydrates, which has made it a subject of controversy. The restriction of carbohydrates may lead to weight loss in some people, but excess fat and protein may negatively affect cholesterol levels and long-term cardiovascular health.