With such phrases as low-carb, net carb and Atkins Friendly gracing billboards and menus, the high-protein diet trend has not only invented new vocabulary, but added new foods in the marketplace.

Fast food restaurants such as Burger King and McDonald's are launching bun-free, low-carb versions of their popular foods, and Subway has already begun offering low-carb wrap sandwiches.

Lena Imms (sophomore-political science) is one of many looking for quick weight loss to make up for unstructured weekends.

"I try to diet, but when I'm intoxicated it's hard to resist a piece of Canyon Pizza," she said. "Thursday through Saturday kill [my diet] when I go out."

Jenny Ledikwe, a post-doctorate in the nutrition department at Penn State, said the low-carb diet has become very popular, especially because obesity is such a problem in America.

But even with the low-carb friendly products that grocery stores and restaurants are carrying, Ledikwe said the items are misleading.

"There is not a legal definition for what low-carb means," she said.

Despite the ambiguity, Denny Hopkins, vice president of advertising and public relations for Giant food stores, said the low-carb products are doing very well at their stores.

"We are selling many items that are designated low-carb," he said. "New items are coming out all the time."

Among companies promoting new items is Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, 124 S. Allen St., which plans to launch a low-carb version of its creamy ice cream early next month, Hopkins said.

Panera Bread, 148 S. Allen St., will offer low carb bread in the next few months to customers.

"A lot of people are ordering sandwiches without the bread," said assistant manager Andrea Rubinsky.

Ledikwe said the risks of the diet are unknown at this point, but liver or kidney damage could occur in the long run.

"There is insufficient scientific data to recommend or not recommend this diet," she said.

One reason for the rapid weight loss is called ketosis, or loss of water weight, and not necessarily fat loss, Ledikwe said.

Phil Murphy (senior-electrical engineering) is not buying into the hype, he said.

"I try to eat healthy food whenever possible," he said. "I would not buy low-carb products. I would just buy the food that was low-carb to begin with if I wanted to go on the diet."

Emily Wang (sophomore-nursing) does not want to waste her effort on the diet, she said.

"College students don't have the time or money [for the low-carb diet]," Wang said. "It might work; it just isn't for me."

Ruby Tuesday offers a new diet-friendly menu, said corporate spokeswoman Terina Stewart, but its restaurants are not trying to alienate regular customers.

"Customers are asking for lower-carb menu items," she said. "There are still people who want a hamburger on a bun. ... We want to provide choice."

Ledikwe said lower caloric intake and increased physical activity with a maximum weight loss of one to two pounds per week is what it takes to keep the pounds off.

"A calorie is still a calorie," she said. "Looking at the calorie content [of food] is helpful."

Ledikwe said college students should not worry about keeping up with new diet plans.

"There have been lots of diet trends," she said. "They just take turns being more popular."