The Atkins Diet

Re “Report: Atkins Gained 60 Pounds Before Death,” Feb. 11: It is not clear why Dr. Robert Atkins was obese. I don’t recall that he ever recommended the diet as a treatment for viral-induced cardiomyopathy. The real story here is the extremes his “enemies” employ -- illegally obtaining and distributing a copy of the coroner’s report -- to disparage the man personally and his teachings. Standing by itself, nothing in the report is relevant to whether his diet recommendations help or hurt people. It is another manifestation of the politics of vengeance.

Robert K. Baker

Los Angeles