Low-carb diets are based on inducing a state of ketosis in the body. When deprived of incoming carbohydrates, the body uses up its glycogen reserves -- glucose stored in the muscles and liver -- and must resort to burning fat for energy. As a result, low-carb diets do not require dieters to restrict calories -- the idea is to change the composition of their diets to favor proteins and fats over carbs and eat to the point of reasonable satiety. Although dieters might in fact consume fewer calories than usual because of the increased satiety they get from protein, according to Atkins in his book "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution," restricting calories too much could backfire by creating a "starvation" situation for which the body compensates by decreasing its metabolic rate and holding on to fat.
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