Tabloids had reported that Catherine Zeta-Jones had tried the Atkins diet. Catherine had her lawyers release a letter claiming the Atkins diet "has been derided by nutritionists and other health care officials for decades."

Spokesmen for Atkins have said they haven't heard from lawyers for Catherine and as a policy don't seek celebrity endorsements anyway. They would rather have real people show the results they have achieved in real world settings.

The letter goes on to state that by linking Catherine with the Atkins diet, it implies that Catherine values her beauty more than her health - and that Atkins is damaging to your health.

One has to wonder if Catherine even knows what the Atkins diet is about, given these claims she makes! The Atkins diet, as well as other low carb diets, have been proven in study after study to be very healthy for you. They have been proven - even at higher calorie intakes - to be more effective than other leading diet systems. The weight loss that millions have achieved through low carb diets has resulted in amazing health gains, from lessened heart disease, less risk of diabetes, and a myriad of other benefits.

The links between obesity and bad health are proven beyond a shadow of a doubt. The ability of Atkins and other low carb plans to help people lose weight is equally as known. For a high profile actress to claim that Atkins causes health problems is irresponsible and potentially destructive, if it causes those who are achieving weight loss and better health through an Atkins diet to go back to their former carb-inhaling, sugar-eating ways.

I realize that actresses are "just people" - but they have great power with the public and as is said "with great power comes great responsibility". Catherine chooses to draw high paychecks from the cosmetics super-giant Elizabeth Arden, encouraging women to spend thousands of dollars on covering their face in stuff before they can feel beautiful. I wish she would use her power to encourage women to *live healthy lives* instead, and spend their money on healthy foods.


Lisa Shea's Library of Low Carb Books