Atkins dieters to cut back

Promoters of the lowcarbohydrate, high-fat Atkins diet are advising the public to limit their intake of saturated fat by cutting back on Atkins staples such as meat, cheese and butter.

Responding to criticism from scientists that Atkins could lead to heart disease and other health problems, the director of research and education for Atkins Nutritionals, Colette Heimowitz, said only 20 per cent of a dieter's calories should come from saturated fat.

Beef, pork, lamb and butter were on the list of "foods you may eat liberally" in diet founder Dr Robert C. Atkins' book Dr Atkins' New Diet Revolution, first published in 1992.

Many people took that as an instruction to gorge on red meat, Ms Heimowitz told the New York Times.

She said the company wanted doctors and patients to feel comfortable with the diet.

The plan remains a high-fat diet but there is now more emphasis on eating chicken and fish.