The Atkins economy

Aug 14th 2003
From The Economist print edition

How to lose weight and make money with low carbohydrate diets

“OF ALL the parasites that reflect humanity, I do not know of, nor can I imagine, any more distressing than that of obesity,” wrote William Banting in what was probably the first guide to following a low-carbohydrate diet. After trying all manner of remedies, in 1862 this London undertaker was horrified that he still tipped the scales at 202 pounds (92 kg). A year later, after following his high-protein diet, he had shed 46 pounds. Today he would probably have been a devotee of the Atkins diet, which is having a huge impact not just on the slimming business—worth over $40 billion in America alone—but on the entire food industry.

Read the full article here: economist.com

Note: About Dr Susan Jebb quoted in above article