Diet Gurus Agree on Basics for Weight Loss

(The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Williamsburg, Va. --- This Colonial town has long been the site for history, but it may have reached new historic heights Friday when dueling diet doctors agreed on some basic ways to lose weight.

Reduce trans fat, saturated fat and refined starches and sugars.

Increase fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fibers and nutrients.

Replace bad fats with good fats, control portion size and total calories.

And, oh yeah, increase physical activity.

The Friday morning panel was one of the final sessions in the Time/ABC News Summit on Obesity. It was aimed at simplifying diet messages.

The discussion focused on bad carbs vs. good carbs, low fat vs. low carb and calorie counting vs. carb counting. Among those at the table were the authors of "The South Beach Diet" and "The Zone" and the chairman of the Atkins Physicians' Council.

The debate was so passionate that at one point, moderator Philip Elmer-Dewitt, sciences editor of Time magazine, said, "Children, don't make me stop the car."

In the end, however, all agreed that reducing refined starches and sugars might be one of the most important steps to weight loss.

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