The Atkins diet

BBC Health - Atkins diet factfile

BBC News: Warning over extreme diets 12-08-03

BBC News: Atkins diet 'safe and effective'
22-05-03

BBC News: Atkins diet health warning 17-04-03

Atkins dieters must first follow a 14 day Induction phase with a limit of 20g of carbohydrate each day (a banana contains 22g), and basically consists of meat, chicken, fish, eggs or cheese with some green and salad vegetables, butter and oil.

All carbohydrate-containing foods such as fruit, many vegetables, bread, cereals, rice, potatoes, pasta, biscuits, sugar and so on must be avoided, as must milk and yogurt.

The next phase allows slightly more carbohydrate - about 40g a day on average – to enable ongoing weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds a week.

Once dieters reach their goal weight they are advised to slightly increase their carbohydrate intake until their weight stabilises – but it should not go over 90g a day.