Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine According to Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, not only are high-protein low-carb diets unlikely to be effective tools for keeping the weight off, but they be harmful to your health. Meat protein-heavy diets such as Atkins have been shown to dramatically increase susceptibility to colon cancer, heart disease, kidney malfunction, and osteoporosis. To top it off, studies show that weight loss under Atkins, even in the short term, is no better than that achieved with with traditional low-fat diets.

About the author:
Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit health organization that promotes preventive medicine, especially good nutrition. PCRM also conducts clinical research studies, opposes unethical human experimentation, and promotes alternatives to animal research. PCRM president Neal D. Barnard, M.D., is a popular speaker and the author of Breaking the Food Seduction; Foods that Fight Pain; Food for Life; and other books on preventive medicine. PCRM's advisory board includes 12 health care professionals from a broad range of specialties. For further information, go to: http://pcrm.org/