"Stadler said not enough research has been performed and published to allow people to make an informed choice about following the Atkins diet.

"Yes you will lose weight, but we don't know at what risk," Stadler said.

Anyone using the Atkins diet to lose more than five pounds should consult with their doctor before they start the diet and again two to six weeks later, she said.

Inevitably, some people on Atkins will have no health complications, but others will.

"We don't know who's going to respond well and who's going to respond negatively," Stadler said. "

So what gets me is - they studied two diets but only one is seen as a long-term risk. Where are the studies showing "proving" the long-term safety and efficacy of low-fat, high carbohydrate diets? Can anyone say "double-standard"?