Like boy bands and unfortunate fashion trends, fad diets come and go.
The waning popularity of the low-carb Atkins Diet has left a void that has yet to be filled. There are plenty of contenders, and each has its own grand promise of weight loss. Because promises on the back of book jackets don't always deliver, we asked a doctor and a dietitian to weigh in on some of the latest diets:
The book: "The South Beach Diet," Arthur Agatston (Rodale, $24.95).
The promise: The heir apparent to Atkins, The South Beach Diet also recommends cutting carbs, but it makes a distinction between the good carbs (fruits, veggies and the complex ones found in whole grains) and the bad ones (refined flour and sugar). The book also recommends plenty of lean meats and healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil.
What professionals say: "As far as fad diets go, it's probably one of the better ones," says clinical nutritionist Tiana Lee. She explains that it doesn't make the blanket statement that all carbs are bad, and it is relatively balanced in its food choices. Dr. Deepinder Bal, an internal medicine physician and director of a weight loss program, also gives South Beach the thumbs up. "It's actually a well-planned diet," he says.
The next big thing? This diet book is already a best-seller, but Lee says it doesn't quite have the consumer appeal that Atkins did. "South Beach is a little more complicated," she says. "And it doesn't let you eat bacon and eggs all day." Bal is a little more optimistic about the diet's chance for mega-success. "I think it's already getting there," he says.
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