1. CONTACT: Andrea Davidoff
RF|Binder for Atkins
(212) 994-7617
Atkins@rfbinder.com
ATKINS SAYS DUKAN DIET IS A DON’T
---
The Atkins Diet remains the only low-carbohydrate weight loss approach scientifically
validated as safe and effective
DENVER, CO. (December 22, 2010)—Recent media coverage suggests that the reported
wedding diet of future British princess Kate Middleton is something brand new. Yet the Dukan
Diet is just another variation of the Atkins Diet™, but with some nutritional recommendations that
simply don’t make sense or are guaranteed to fail.
The Dukan Diet claims dieters can lose weight by eating as much as they want of 100 approved
foods, 72 of which are high in protein. The idea that anyone can eat as much as they want of any
food and still lose weight clearly defies reason. Once people stop following a weight-loss diet of
any kind and return to their old way of eating – or continue to eat as much as they want of
anything – they will regain any lost weight, as evidenced by millions of yo-yo dieters.
The Atkins Diet has been in existence for 40 years and has been supported with over 60 studies
during this period. Nutritional science, which is at the core of the Atkins Diet, conclusively shows
that reducing levels of refined carbohydrates and added sugars and focusing instead on whole-
food carbohydrate sources, protein and healthy natural fats is a sustainable way to eat and lose
weight.
Dr. Jeff Volek, associate professor at the University of Connecticut and coauthor of New York
Times Bestseller The New Atkins for a New You, notes the Dukan Diet ignores the fact that there
is wide variation in people’s carbohydrate tolerance. Atkins, in contrast, enables individuals to
tailor the diet to their own metabolism.
“Long-term success on a carbohydrate-restricted diet requires more than a casual approach and
the Dukan Diet falls short,” said Dr. Volek. “Dr. Dukan’s approach ignores the well-documented
fact that people vary in their ability to metabolize carbohydrates.”

2. Dr. Volek stresses the key to long-term weight-loss success is finding your unique individual level
of carbohydrate tolerance, as described in The New Atkins for a New You.
“The key to long-term success on a diet is not to ‘eat what you want’ as Dr. Dukan states, but
rather to give people permission to find their carbohydrate tolerance level,” said Dr. Volek. “Once
a person discovers his level, be it 50, 75, or 100 grams of carbs per day, he is on the way to
unlocking the powerful metabolic benefits of the Atkins Diet.”
The New Atkins for a New You details how science has transformed the Atkins Diet from what
was once considered a “bacon, egg, and cheese” diet to a lifestyle that encompasses a wide
variety of whole foods. These include multiple protein sources, as well as vegetables, low-
glycemic fruits and – as one approaches one’s goal weight – whole grains. By gradually adding
back different carbohydrate foods, individuals develop sustainable eating habits that allow them
to maintain their new weight.
“A proper low-carbohydrate nutritional approach is not about subtle difference in fat grams; it is
about controlling carbohydrate intake,” said Colette Heimowitz, M.Sc., Atkins VP of Nutrition and
Education. “And when it comes to that, Atkins is unparalleled in providing positive results in terms
of weight loss and management.”
About Atkins Nutritionals, Inc.
Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., is a leading player in the $2.4 billion weight control nutrition category, and
offers a powerful lifetime approach to weight loss and weight management. The Atkins Diet
focuses on a healthy diet with reduced levels of refined carbohydrates and added sugars and
encourages the consumption of protein, fiber, fruits, vegetables and good fats. Backed by
research and consumer success stories, this approach allows the body to burn more fat and work
more efficiently while helping individuals feel less hungry, more satisfied and more energetic.
Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., manufactures and sells a variety of nutrition bars, foods and shakes
designed around the nutritional principles of the Atkins Diet™. Atkins’ four product lines:
Advantage®, Day Break™, Endulge™ and Cuisine™ appeal to a broad audience of both men
and women who want to achieve their weight management goals and enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
Atkins products are available in more than 30,000 locations throughout the U.S. and
internationally. For more information, visit atkins.com.
###