These days, there are just too many diet books that making a choice which to buy just becomes too confusing.

Just about every diet book is jam-packed with what Dr. Atkins calls a “rationale” (along with the testimonials, the “you’ll never be hungry again” promises, and the obligatory “why this diet works when all others failed” chapter).

Many rationales are irrelevant because they don’t do the obvious: test the author’s diet against a “control” diet to see if one enables people to lose more weight...and keep it off.

Without a control group, studies are worthless. “I can make anyone lose 20 pounds just by bringing them into our research center for a few weeks,” says Tufts University researcher Susan Roberts.

Let’s get going by perusing the most popular diet books in the marketplace.

Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution
by Robert Atkins, M.D.
Claim: Only carbs make you fat. Strict limits on carbs enable the body to burn fat.
What you eat: Meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, cheese, butter, cream, oil, nuts, some (non-starchy) vegetables, artificial sweeteners.

Calories: 1,800 Protein: 135 g (30%)
Fat: 110 g (55%) Carbs: 60 g* (15%)
Sat Fat: 36 g (18%) Fiber: 10 g*
Comments:
• Too high in saturated fat.
• Low in fruits and whole grains.
• Low in calcium and fiber.
• May cause bad breath and constipation.
• Our numbers average the induction, weight-loss, and maintenance diets.

The Zone
by Barry Sears, Ph.D.

Claim: The correct ratio of carbs to protein to fat (40:30:30) promotes weight loss (and health) because it keeps insulin levels in “The Zone.” What you eat: Low-fat protein (like chicken breast, fish, or cottage cheese) the size of your palm, and fruits and vegetables on the rest of the plate, with a small amount of olive or canola oil.

Calories: 1,000 Protein: 70 g (30%)
Fat: 30 g (30%) Carbs: 115 g (45%)
Sat Fat: 8 g (8%) Fiber: 20 g

Comments:
• Low calorie density and reasonably healthy (low in sat fat, with ample fruits and vegetables).
• Low in whole grains and calcium.

At http://www.pcrm.org/news/health010109.html, doctors rate popular diet books. The site’s conclusion: low fat diet books score healthiest, while high-protein, Atkins-style diet books earn “unsafe” ratings.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has completed its own nutritional analysis of top diet books. Doctors and registered dietitians at PCRM, a nonprofit health organization based in Washington, D.C., rated 11 of the top books, including best-sellers by diet authors Robert Atkins, M.D., and Barry Sears, Ph.D.

Only two books earned PCRM's top rating of five stars. Both of the diet books ranked highest by PCRM are supported by published research studies, while high-protein diets are not.

PCRM rated each book's daily diet recommendations on five criteria critical to good nutrition and safe, healthy weight loss: a minimum of 25 grams of fiber, five servings of fruits and vegetables, no more than 50 milligrams of cholesterol, no more than 30 percent of total calories from fat and no more than 10 percent from saturated fat.

Diet Book Ratings
FIVE STARS—Outstanding
The McDougall Program for Maximum Weight Loss by John McDougall, M.D. Eat More, Weigh Less by Dean Ornish, M.D.

FOUR STARS—Good

Dr. Shapiro's Picture Perfect Weight Loss by Howard M. Shapiro, D.O. Eating Well for Optimum Health by Andrew Weil, M.D.

THREE STARS—Satisfactory

Dieting for Dummies by Jane Kirby, R.D.
The Soy Zone by Barry Sears, Ph.D.
Weight Watchers: New Complete Cookbook by Weight Watchers
TWO STARS—Not Satisfactory

Body for Life by Bill Phillips
Sugar Busters! by H. Leighton Steward; Sam S. Andrews, M.D.; Morrison C. Bertha, M.D.; Luis A. Balart, M.D.

NO STARS—Unsafe

Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution by Robert Atkins, M.D.
The Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program by Richard Heller, Ph.D., and Rachael Heller, Ph.D.

Diet Books

South Beach Diet
Lose fat not muscle on the Zone Diet Advantage!
The Slim Fast Plan - eDiets.com

Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or dietitian. Information and statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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