Atkins' widow extols diet on anniversary of his death

Knight Ridder News Service

NEW YORK -- The widow of Robert Atkins paid tribute to her diet doc hubby on the first anniversary of his death this week -- and said his low-carbohydrate eating plan has changed the world forever.
In a letter to carb-conscious fans that's about to be posted on the Atkins Web site, Veronica Atkins thanked dieters and predicted her husband will go down in history as a medical revolutionary.
"My husband actually has helped change the way the world eats for the better," wrote Veronica Atkins, 66. "He actually has driven millions of people to a more balanced and healthful diet."
Robert Atkins, 72, died last April 17 from injuries he suffered when he slipped on a patch of ice near his East Side office.
His death didn't slow the explosion in popularity of Atkins' low-carb, high-fat road map to a slimmer waistline.
Three decades after Atkins' first diet book, millions of dieters are gobbling up butter-dripping steaks and bunless burgers, even though the medical establishment still clucks about possible health risks.
"You know, Bob never doubted that as the years passed, others would see the wisdom of what he was doing for his patients," she wrote. "He never felt anger toward his critics because he knew he was right and he knew he was helping people."

http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Apr/0413...on_w/156691.asp