Caught the show Alan Alda hosts on PBS last nite (can't recall the name). They were doing a 6 month diet study of a small group of people who agreed to keep a journal and adhere to diets regimes including Atkins, the Zone. Weight Watchers, and bariatric surgery among others,. Alda acknowledged from the outset that the group was too small to make any scientific conclusions but that didn't stop them from painting very unflattering portraits of the Atkins regime while glorifying bariatric surgery.

The one guy doing Atkins was caught and filmed with a full-fledged burger/bun during induction . He shrugged that off and went on to explain all his reasons for falling prey to everything from pizza to linguine in clam sauce. They purposely made it appear as if Atkins was difficult to follow. To top it off the intro to the Atkins segement showed a butcher slicing a way-overfat chunk of beef while claiming Atkins was the diet reknown for allowing unlimited consumption of such.

The bartiatric surgery group had 2 participants and everything about it was nauseatingly upbeat . They didn't even hint at any of the nasty side effects. Shots of both participants wearing their old pants, enjoying a highly active new lifestyle, etc. Claimed 35% weight loss over the 6 month period. Like to see em back in about 2 years when they're back to their old eating habits and overflowing they're pants again! Neighbor of ours has recently regained her former status after surgery a couple years back.