Lieberman Defends Decision To Follow Atkins Diet
MANCHESTER, N.H.—Presidential Candidate Joe Lieberman defended his decision to follow the Atkins Diet Thursday at a debate preceding the New Hampshire primary.
Answering a question put forth by Peter Jennings, the senator clearly separated himself from the other Democratic candidates by stating that while he was not happy about every aspect of the controversial diet, he was "unmistakably thinner" than he had been before the start of his new eating routine.
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Above: Lieberman shows the size of some sort of meat product which he ate for lunch, file photo. |
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"I don't think there anyone in this country who believes that I am the same weight that I was before I started dieting," Lieberman told Jennings. "And my unwavering support for such a low-carb, high-protein lifestyle is what separates me from all the other candidates on this stage."
Skeptics have long questioned the benefits of such a life style. Dr. Howard Dean, one of Lieberman's chief opponents, attempted to rebut the former Vice-Presidential candidate by listing some of the diet's more well-documented negative health effects.
"Well, in the short term, patients who follow the Atkins diet suffer from dehydration and constipation." Dean said. "Dieters also frequently complain that they have difficulty concentrating."
Dean then proceeded to list the long term-effects of such a diet, despite the end of his time being signaled by a bell.
"I've also seen an increased risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and heart disease. This is not a healthy way to lose weight. In fact, I'm even going to go so far as to question whether or not Senetor Leiberman actually lost weight. Didn't he mention putting on a few extra pounds over the holidays? Wasn't that after he went on his diet?"
Although the moderators quickly changed the subject of the candidates' questioning, the debate made Leiberman's stance on the Atkins diet clear, and it is a stance that many political experts feel will hurt Leiberman in the long run.
"Although most Americans are joining the low-carb revolution, most Democrats are sticking with the anti-Atkins stance," said Brit Hume, the Washington managing editor from Fox News, who was also at the debate. "This is why Lieberman can't get the nomination."
At press time, scientists still had not found any ketones in Leiberman's urine, a vital step in proving the legitimacy of the Atkins diet.
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