Weight loss diet programs are considered to be immensely beneficial in causing weight loss. The growing awareness regarding the ill-effects of obesity has greatly facilitated the popularity of weight loss supplements and diet programs. Here it is necessary to bear in mind that before indulging in a weight loss diet, one must take the opinion of a certified medical practitioner or a dietician to ensure that the weight loss diet is suitable to one's body type and that the prevailing health conditions allow him to undertake that diet. One must also remember that a balanced diet is the key to a healthy body and that fasting or starvation is definitely not what going for a weight loss diet implies. Low carb diets or low carbohydrate diets are one of the most popular forms of weight loss diets and over the years it has achieved immense popularity because of its effectiveness in securing considerable weight loss. A low carb diet simply implies a diet program which ensures that the amount of digestible carbohydrates are reduced in consumption and replaced by moderately higher proportions of fats and proteins. Some of the most popular low carb diet programs include Dr. Atkins diet program, Stillman's diet and several others. In the decade from the 1990s to 2000, it was noticed that about 18% of the population in the United States of America had sought allegiance to these low carb diet programs and it constituted one of the most popular diet programs in USA. Many of the proponents of these low carb diets also ensured that they reduced or controlled the trans fats. The huge popularity of the low carb diet programs initiated various restaurants and food joints to introduce low carb food items within their menu in order to popularize them among consumers while ensuring profits as well. Low carbohydrate diets are in fact similar to the low glycemic index diets and propound the lowering of the nutritive carbohydrates, also known as ‘net carbs'.

Over the years, low carb diets have encouraged mixed reactions. While a section has openly admired its credibility in aiding weight loss, this diet program has also been subjected to a lot of flak and criticism as well. It is alleged that since this diet program is more susceptible to causing weakness or fatigue, it cannot be supported ably by an exercising regimen. Intake of higher protein content as a substitute for carbohydrates can result in cardiovascular diseases.