Is new diet book knockoff or following lead?

I have respected that the No Flour, No Sugar answer to losing weight has been your secret. In fact, in your "Live Longer, Live Better” book, written in 2004, you specifically stated that people are more able to lose weight by following a low-carb diet than by using a traditional low-fat plan, a finding that supports your No Flour, No Sugar Diet. Then you followed up with a diet book that explains "the simplest way to lose weight.” How, then, can Andrew Weil claim the same approach in the Oct. 24, 2009, issue of USA Weekend that talks about his best secret: skip sugar and flour? I realize he is attempting to sell his book, but I feel he is cheating when he steals ideas from other sources and makes them his own.

DEAR READER: Andrew Weil, M.D., who practices holistic medicine, recently wrote a book titled "Why Our Health Matters,” in which he states that sugar and processed carbohydrates are the primary culprits in the obesity epidemic. So, what more can I say?

I began working more than 40 years ago on a simple yet effective weight-reduction plan. In 2006, I was approached by a publisher to write a "No Flour, No Sugar Diet” book. The concept was simple, effective, flexible, easy to follow and allowed patients to regain control of their lives. It involved eliminating flour and sugar from foods consumed. While the revelation was markedly positive for weight control, surprisingly, it also helped diabetics reduce their medicines, those with high cholesterol counts lower their readings, and those who had high blood pressure to bring it within normal range. Readers wrote to me through my syndicated column with their success stories, and after I wrote my "No Flour, No Sugar Diet,” I received thousands of letters from readers indicating they finally had a plan they could follow and stick with. They then asked for additional help — a cookbook to give them more flexibility with recipes. I followed with my 2008 "No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook.” And, I must say, the recipes are fantastic.

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