DR ROBERT ATKINS - DIET GURU DIES

Controversial diet guru to the stars DR ROBERT ATKINS died today (17APR03) - he was 72.

Atkins died at the NEW YORK WEILL-CORNELL MEDICAL CENTER, surrounded by his wife and close friends. He suffered a severe head injury on 8 April (03) after falling on an icy sidewalk while walking to work. He underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain, says his spokesman RICHARD ROTHSTEIN.

Atkins found infamy after publishing his NEW DIET REVOLUTION book which extolled the values of a high fat, low carb diet.

The eating unorthodox diet was deemed unsafe by the AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION. However, the quick results and flexibility of the diet won it millions of followers the world over, including Hollywood superstars JENNIFER ANISTON and MINNIE DRIVER.