Dukan is No1 diet in France

THE MOST popular diet in France is the Régime Dukan which has taken over from Atkins and Montignac as the way to lose weight.

Like Atkins, it is high in protein in the initial “attack” phase, but is low in fat. With shades of the GI Montignac diet, it also includes high glycaemic index oat bran.

Dr Dukan says you can eat as much as you want of his 100 good foods; supporters talk of losing seven to 10 pounds in the first week.

That first week means eating low-fat beef, chicken, turkey and fish for meat-eaters, eggs and tofu for vegetarians and zero-fat yogurt and cottage cheese, plus water and a 20-minute walk each day.

Next comes the “cruise” phase, with protein-only days and protein-and-veg days. Potatoes are banned, as are high-calorie vegetables such as peas, carrots and sweetcorn. Soups are allowed, as are salads.

More than two million copies of the Dukan book Je ne sais pas maigrir have been sold in France.