The New Atkins for a New You Diet: What the Experts Say continued...

"This plan is a drastic departure from a healthy diet and chances are it will be so monotonous that dieters won’t be able to sustain it," she says.

At the end of the day, calories count, no matter where they come from.  When you eat a low-carb, high-fat diet, experts say, it suppresses appetite. And weight loss on the new Atkins diet could simply be the result of getting fewer calories because you're less hungry, says Salge Blake, an assistant professor at Boston University.

She recommends diets that don't eliminate any healthy food groups.  A healthy diet, she says, includes satisfying foods like lean and low-fat protein (not high-fat protein) as well as high-fiber whole grains, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and low-fat dairy. Not only will such a diet help with weight loss, it's also heart-healthy and helps protect against chronic disease.

The New Atkins for a New You Diet: Food for Thought

While scientific evidence has shown that successful weight loss diets can vary widely - and the jury may still be out on saturated fat's role in the diet -- many experts still believe that a high-fat diet is contradictory to good health.

Following a low-carb diet like Atkins may be an option for people who have not been successful on traditional calorie-cutting, moderate-carb plans. The diet may be suited for people who don’t metabolize or tolerate carbs well, such as those with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, says Volek. 

Even so, many dieters may find living with such small amounts of carbs and large amounts of fat and protein impossible to keep up for the long term.

Before you embark on the New Atkins for a New You diet plan, you're strongly encouraged to consult your doctor.