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.

Editors: For an interview with a PCRM doctor or nutritionist, please contact Ms. Simon Chaitowitz at 202-686-2210, ext. 309.

Founded in 1985, PCRM is a nonprofit health organization that promotes preventive medicine, especially better nutrition, and higher standards in research.

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Weight Loss Books

Rated January 2001 by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

A healthy diet is high in fiber and based around whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. To prevent chronic disease such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and cancer, a nutritious diet should also be low in cholesterol, total fat, and saturated fat. Weight loss diets should meet these same criteria.

In order to rate the overall healthfulness and safety of current weight loss books, the nutrition staff at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine ranked the following books on the above criteria with a five-star system. Using a nutritional analysis on sample menus in these books, the diet plans were given one star each for having high fiber menus (greater than 25 grams of fiber per day), having at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, being low in cholesterol (less than 50 milligrams of cholesterol per day), being low in total fat (less than 30 percent fat), and low in saturated fat (less than 10 percent saturated fat).

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The McDougall Program for Maximum Weight Loss by John McDougall, M.D.
FIVE STARS—Outstanding

This program encourages exercise and healthy, low-fat eating. Examples of delectable, healthy recipes include split pea vegetable stew and picante black beans. All sample menus are very low in fat and cholesterol-free.

* * *

Eat More, Weigh Less by Dean Ornish, M.D.
FIVE STARS—Outstanding

This diet program is backed by solid research conducted by Dr. Ornish and his colleagues. Not only is this low-fat, vegetarian dietary approach effective in helping people lose weight, it has also been shown to reverse the effects of heart disease. The menus are flavorful and based on whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruit.

* * *

Dr. Shapiro's Picture Perfect Weight Loss by Howard M. Shapiro, D.O.
FOUR STARS—Good

Dr. Shapiro's approach to weight loss involves learning about low-calorie alternatives for foods. For example, for the same number of calories in a half-cup of ice cream, a person could have 10 Tofutti Chocolate Fudge Treats or 15 plums. Just 2 ounces of cheese equals the number of calories in 30 dried apricots. The book contains wonderful pictures to help the reader visualize alternatives to high-calorie, high-fat foods. No recipes are included; however, there is helpful information on dining out.p

* * *

Eating Well for Optimum Health by Andrew Weil, M.D.
FOUR STARS—Good

This dietary approach emphasizes less refined, less processed foods that have a low glycemic index. Dr. Weil also recommends increasing fiber to 40 grams per day by increasing your intake of berries, beans, and whole grains. The majority of fat calories are derived from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Most recipes are appealing and easy to prepare.

* * *

Dieting for Dummies by Jane Kirby, R.D.
THREE STARS—Satisfactory

This diet is based on grains, vegetables, and fruit. However, sample menus emphasized high-cholesterol, low-fiber foods, such as an egg for breakfast, turkey and milk for lunch, fish for dinner, and cheese for an evening snack.

* * *<

The Soy Zone by Barry Sears, Ph.D.
THREE STARS—Satisfactory

The sample menus emphasize protein and fat rather than complex carbohydrates. Dr. Sears does recommend, however, a high fruit and vegetable intake (15 servings per day). Recipes are not low in fat nor cholesterol, but sample menus keep the saturated fat content to below 10 percent of total calories.

* * *

Weight Watchers: New Complete Cookbook by Weight Watchers
THREE STARS—Satisfactory

Sample menus are relatively low in fiber, not meeting the recommended 25 grams of fiber per day. This is mainly the result of meals that centered around no-fiber, high-cholesterol foods like shrimp, salmon, chicken salad, and pastrami. On the upside, most recipes are low in fat. Recipes are easy to prepare and most seem flavorful.

* * *

Body for Life by Bill Phillips
TWO STARS—Not Satisfactory

This diet program, which focuses on setting life, diet, and exercise goals, has sample menus based around protein sources such as meat and eggs. Phillips also recommends a protein shake as a snack two or three times a day. Menus are lacking in fruits, vegetables, and fiber, and are high in cholesterol. The overall diet is, however, fairly low in both fat and saturated fat.

* * *

Sugar Busters! by H. Leighton Steward; Sam S. Andrews, M.D.; Morrison C. Bertha, M.D.; Luis A Balart, M.D.
TWO STARS—Not Satisfactory

Whole grains are recommended on this diet, whereas refined grains and many fruits and vegetables (those with what the authors assume to have a high glycemic index) are not allowed. The menus are high in fat and cholesterol with cheese, eggs, butter, yogurt, and cream not restricted in the meal plans. These foods squeeze out others that are higher in fiber and lower in fat, leading to Sugar Busters' low rating.

* * *

Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution by Robert Atkins, M.D.
ZERO STARS—Unsafe

The sample menus were low in complex carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables. Only during the "maintenance menu" stage are readers permitted to consume anywhere near the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables. On this diet, the day begins with eggs fried in butter with bacon and then moves onto a chef salad with ham, chicken, cheese, and eggs for lunch, and a dinner of seafood salad and poached salmon. This menu, far from being low in fat, low in cholesterol, or high in fiber, is not a healthy approach to long-term weight loss.

* * *

The Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program by Richard Heller, Ph.D., and Rachael Heller, Ph.D.
ZERO STARS—Unsafe

Menus were not based on complex carbohydrates and were sorely lacking in fruit. Menus were also very high in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. Menu items like the "Smooth and Cheesy-Good Omelet" (made with 4 eggs and ¼ cup cream cheese) and "Hamburgers with Dill" (2 pounds ground round with 2 teaspoons olive oil) are not recipes for good health.