The Dukan Diet

Atkins is back, this time in a beret. The Dukan Diet promises weight loss via a familiar protein-laden regimen. The plan is an all-out craze in France, where Pierre Dukan, MD, created it. But will it catch on in the United States?
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The Program: The Dukan Diet is structured in stages. Stage one allows only lean proteins (think nonfat dairy, fish, chicken breast), oat bran, and water—at least 48 ounces each day. The next two stages gradually integrate other foods but in limited portions and only on certain days. And the final stage, which lasts the rest of your life, allows you to eat whatever you want 6 days a week—as long as you resume the protein-only diet on the 7th.
The Claim: Dr. Dukan believes in the power of protein. He says that his regimen isn't a low-calorie diet, and eating unlimited amounts of lean protein eliminates hunger. These foods, according to Dr. Dukan, are harder to digest, which means the body gets fewer calories from proteins than other types of food.
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The Facts: There's nothing magic about protein, and some of Dr. Dukan's theories about it are just plain wrong. Animal proteins are actually absorbed more efficiently than plant foods. Dr. Dukan's book is nothing more than a twist on a low-calorie diet, which is what you have when you eliminate categories of food, according to Andrea Giancoli, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. This diet lacks the produce and whole grains you need to ward off diseases, including cancer. Giancoli also points out that the maintenance plan doesn't add up: You can gain weight eating whatever you like 6 days each week. "The plan isn't balanced enough to give you the nutrition you need, but it will probably give you constipation, low energy, brain fog, and bad breath," says Giancoli.