Hi jgoddess!

Diovan is a combination of an angiotensin II receptor blocker and hydrochlorothiazide (a thiazide diuretic) - it's not a beta blocker at all.

Basically, angiotensin causes your body to retain water (so the Diovan therefore blocks this effect). The hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic, so it causes your body to lose more water through your kidneys etc.

If anything, I would think that a diuretic would help you lose weight because it gets rid of excess fluid. I'm not sure exactly what effects it would have in regard to this WOE though- sounds like from what Atkins wrote that it may inhibit loss slightly.

Cathy