The Atkins Christmas

The blowout Christmas dinner of turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings has been as traditional as carol singers and midnight mass. But the growing popularity of the Atkins diet is changing all that.

A study published today shows that four in 10 people are planning an Atkins-conscious Christmas dinner, with low-carbohydrate options favoured by the regime high on the menu.

Out go the stuffing, roast potatoes and sprouts, Christmas pudding, mince pies and chocolates; in comes lean turkey with no skin, soya gravy, pumpkin, black coffee - and a hangover-free holiday. That is because the Atkins plan, favoured by celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, Minnie Driver and Renee Zellweger, severely limits alcohol.

Three-quarters of survey respondents say they will not exceed the recommended alcohol allowances during the festive period, while a quarter plan to keep up their exercise regimes on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Dr Malcolm Stone, the chief medical representative at the Hospital Saving Association health insurance firm, which conducted the survey, said: "As a country, we are getting more obese every year because we do less. Atkins is very popular because people are trying to fight that. If people look after their health while enjoying a little of what makes Christmas fun, they can face the New Year revived."

A recent survey showed three million Britons are now on the Atkins diet, to the alarm of some health experts who believe it may cause lasting damage. Award-winning health writer Amanda Ursell, believes "thousands" of Atkins diehards will opt out of the festivities at Christmas.