Controversial diet doctor Robert Atkins, advocate of a popular but controversial high protein, low carbohydrate diet, died today.
Spokesman Richard Rothstein said Atkins, 72, died this morning in the Weill Cornell Medical Center in NewYork, where he was admitted on April 8 after falling andhitting his head on an icy sidewalk.
Atkins underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from hisbrain but went into a coma and died more than a week later fromcomplications, Rothstein said.Atkins developed the "Atkins Diet" - now referred to as"the Atkins Nutritional Approach" - that blamescarbohydrates, a major energy source, for weight gain.
Theprogram has been criticised by the medical establishment as risking disease, but several recent studies have shown that the diet can help people lose weight without damaging their health.
He first published, Diet Revolutionin 1972, which was updated twice and hit the best-seller lists despite the criticism. His latest book, Atkins for Life, was published this year.
"The cause of death was related to head trauma from anaccident that occurred while Dr. Atkins was on his way towork," Rothstein said in a statement.
Atkins fell on his way to work at the Atkins Center forComplementary Medicine in Manhattan during an unusual springsnowstorm that hit the New York region on April 7.
In addition to his wife, Veronica, Dr. Atkins is survivedby his mother, Norma Atkins.