With the overwhelming popularity of low-carb, high-fat diets, it seems the low-fat diet may be a thing of the past. However, it continues to live on in the form of the Food Guide Pyramid.

The food pyramid emphasizes the sparing use of sugars, fats and oils, with a daily heaping of grains and vegetables -- this is the low-fat diet.

Dieters who choose to follow a diet low in fat should reduce their intake of fats to no more than 30 percent of daily calories, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

University physician Edward Rosick said the amount of fat in a low-fat diet is debatable and differs depending on the person. However, there is a certain amount of fats needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The World Health Organization recommends the minimum daily intake should be 15 percent of calories from fat.

Cutting back on fats may also reduce the amount of calories consumed each day. According to the USDA Web site, fat contains twice the amount of calories that an equal amount of carbohydrates and protein does.

"Though fats are calorically dense, dieters still need to be aware of caloric intake on this diet," Rosick said. "If you're on a low-fat diet but eating 5,000 calories a day, you're not going to lose weight."

Cutting back on fat usually means cutting back on saturated fats, which raise cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are found in cakes, meat and dairy products.

Rosick said he also recommends abstaining totally from trans fat, which is found in cookies and crackers, because it is not healthy fat.

Dieters should also maintain their intake of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are found mostly in nuts, oils and avocados.

To follow a low-fat diet, the USDA recommends eating plenty of grain and vegetables, lowering intake of saturated fats and choosing low fat milk and lean meats.

Rosick said he believes a basic strategy for losing weight is to eat healthy, exercise and limit caloric intake.

"The key is not low-fat diet or high-fat diet, but a balanced diet and with emphasis on caloric intake," Rosick said. "The key is to eat a balanced diet, while taking in fats you need, as well as exercising. In and of itself, the low fat diet is not any better than any other diet."

Furthermore, students should be aware that products advertised as low fat may add sugar to combat taste, which in turn increases calories. Also, students may look for the cheapest brand rather than the healthiest.

"Its not easy to eat low fat or healthy in college because the meals which are cheap and fast are always high in fat," Jeremy Durkin (sophomore-international politics) said. "I would say 90 percent of the meals you eat right away are high in fat."

Rosick believes the promotion of the low-fat diet by the government and the limited understanding by the public has contributed to obesity.

"The problem is people see low fat and automatically think they can eat as much as they want, which is untrue," Rosick said.

Though the food pyramid is the basis of the low-fat diet, the structure of the pyramid is under consideration. A revised pyramid may be released as early as 2005.

"Food pyramid should be under review; it does not adequately reflect intake of nuts, fish and avocado," said Rosick. "It groups all fats into one limited segment which is inaccurate."