Atkins diet company files for bankruptcy.

**Daikun** · 08-01-2005, 12:19 AM

Atkins Nutritionals Inc., the company that promoted low-carb eating into a national diet craze, filed for bankruptcy court protection Sunday, a company spokesman said.

Atkins has been hurt by waning popularity of its namesake diet, which focuses on eliminating carbohydrates such as bread and pasta to shed weight. The diet became one of the most popular in U.S. history, spawning a virtual cottage industry of low-carb regimens, but also drew criticism from experts for its focus on fatty foods and low fruit and vegetable consumption.

A hearing on the prearranged, Chapter 11 filing was scheduled for Monday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, spokesman Richard Rothstein said. The privately held company, founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert C. Atkins, said it had reached an agreement with the majority of its lenders to give them equity in exchange for lowered debt.

Atkins owes $300 million in outstanding principal and interest, Rothstein said.

Source: CNN

**One Radical Dude** · 08-01-2005, 12:29 AM

It's not surprising to me. I kind of figured that the Atkins craze would slide at some point.

**Chris Wood** · 08-01-2005, 12:30 AM

Nelson: "Ha HA!"

I hated that stupid Atkins gimmick.

**Delthayre** · 08-01-2005, 12:32 AM

For me the best part of this was when Kentuck Fried Chicken tried to use the fad as an exscuse to advertise fried chicken as health food. That was amazing.

**Daikun** · 08-01-2005, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by Delthayre

For me the best part of this was when Kentuck Fried Chicken tried to use the fad as an exscuse to advertise fried chicken as health food. That was amazing.

And there was also Dr. Angus.

**the Amanda** · 08-01-2005, 01:25 AM

Originally Posted by Delthayre

For me the best part of this was when Kentuck Fried Chicken tried to use the fad as an exscuse to advertise fried chicken as health food. That was amazing.

My favorite part was when a local hot dog joint advertised a "diet hot dog" that was a normal hot dog without the bun.

I doubt I'll ever again see the day when the hot dog bun is considered less healthy than the hot dog itself.

**Weatherman** · 08-01-2005, 02:07 AM

*rips a big bite out of his apple*

Can't think of a better fate fate for those flim-flam artists.

**Mr. Pedro** · 08-01-2005, 02:35 AM

It's bagel time.

I only wonder what the next absurd diet fad is going to be.

I predict a no-oxygen diet.

And people will fall for it.

**TrogdorNyimbhat** · 08-01-2005, 02:49 AM

I hope food will be tasty now again, rather than some other diet ruining it. I didn't like the fact that when most products turned Atkins they didn't continue producing original versions. What's going to happen to Subway now, aren't all their sandwiches pro-Atkins?

**Peter Paltridge** · 08-01-2005, 03:34 AM

Thank the heavens!

There was a Bloom County strip from 1984 where Milo walked up to the counter of a Burger King that proudly displayed "HAVE IT YOUR WAY" everywhere and asked for a Whopper without the bun.
He couldn't have it that way back then, and I really wish that order had not become legit in the early 2000's.

This fad was especially devastating for me. Something like 90% of my meal intake is grain-based. I was fine when they told me not to eat fat. I didn't mind when they told me to eat less meat. But take away my BREAD?? Those &^%^$#$ went way too far!

Now that every slice of the old food pyramid has been deemed evil at some point in history EXCEPT for veggies, I believe it's their turn. Please?

**Daikun** · 08-01-2005, 04:12 AM

Originally Posted by TrogdorNyimbhat

I hope food will be tasty now again, rather than some other diet ruining it. I didn't like the fact that when most products turned Atkins they didn't continue producing original versions.

Agreed. I can't STAND low-carb food. It was just awful beyond all words. It was like eating a dusty piece of chalk.

And then there were the bread/bun-less sandwiches. I just couldn't eat that crap. I don't care what people say; lettuce is NOT a substitute for bread. It breaks all the known laws of physics. It's just not possible.

**Zach** · 08-01-2005, 09:22 AM

Ha, death to the heathens...

**Fone Bone** · 08-01-2005, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by TrogdorNyimbhat

I hope food will be tasty now again, rather than some other diet ruining it. I didn't like the fact that when most products turned Atkins they didn't continue producing original versions. What's going to happen to Subway now, aren't all their sandwiches pro-Atkins?

I doubt that as the bread they use is tasty. If they were pro-Atkins once they probably aren't anymore.

I find it incredible that Dr. Atkins died of a heart attack and people still didn't get the message.

And yeah, Del, those Kentucky Fried Chicken commercials were the funniest thing ever. When I think of those guys who sued McDonald's for making them fat I have to think they'd had better luck suing KFC which actually advertised their crap as healthy.

**Chad Bonin** · 08-01-2005, 10:14 AM

... I guess it's time they trim the fat, huh?

**Lord Dalek** · 08-01-2005, 11:40 AM

VICTORY! *eats a box of Krispy Kremes*

**Delthayre** · 08-01-2005, 04:05 PM

It's really fantastic news for me. I've had to reduce my carbohydrate intake anyway because of my elevated triglyceride levels.

*sigh*

Why couldn't I be like a normal person and just suffer from high cholesterol?

**randomguy** · 08-01-2005, 04:18 PM

Good riddance. Hopefully people will someday realize the the process of losing weight boils down to a fairly simple "eat less, exercise more" mandate*, and not whatever ascinine fad diet happens to be popular at the time.

Plus, I'm weary of any diet that claims fruit and vegetables are the problem.

*Also eating a more balanced diet. Still easier than eating hot dogs without buns, though.

**Ed Liu** · 08-01-2005, 05:01 PM

Howdy,

Originally Posted by Fone Bone

I find it incredible that Dr. Atkins died of a heart attack and people still didn't get the message.

He didn't die of the heart attack as much as he died from the massive blunt impact injury to the head, but the autopsy report apparently included information about Atkins' congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and hypertension.

-- Ed/Ace

**Kati** · 08-01-2005, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by randomguy

Good riddance. Hopefully people will someday realize the the process of losing weight boils down to a fairly simple "eat less, exercise more" mandate*, and not whatever ascinine fad diet happens to be popular at the time.

Plus, I'm weary of any diet that claims fruit and vegetables are the problem.

*Also eating a more balanced diet. Still easier than eating hot dogs without buns, though.

I totally agree with you. Long before this diet became popular, a *doctor* recommended me to follow it when I was 13, and you wouldn't believe how disgusting it was. I was sick of the fat, my face had a lot of zits and in general I didn't feel well.

I still can't believe why this stupid diet became so popular. I can't even understand the logic behind it!. It's healthy that this fad is over.

I tried hundreds of "magical" diets (from Atkins to only eating eggs and spinach for weeks) since I was 10 and I only became fatter. But once I realized that I only needed to eat a little of every food group and exercise at least 20 minutes a day (and I'm the worst at exercise), I lost 60 pounds and I have never "re-bounced". It takes longer, but it's better in the long run.