The diet took its name from Dr. Agatston’s area of practice, according to the South Beach Diet website, and the approach quickly became popular in the Miami area.
Dr. Agatston’s weight-loss plan was published in 2003 as The South Beach Diet, and has sold millions of copies.
What Is the South Beach Diet and What Is Its Purpose?
The South Beach Diet eliminates refined carbohydrates — white flour and sugar are the top culprits. People on the plan are urged to curb carbs and focus on lean protein, low-fat dairy, and healthy carbs — including whole grains, vegetables, and fruit — as a way to lose weight, improve their health, and reduce the cravings that put you in the typical hunger-overeat-gain-weight cycle.
According to the South Beach Diet website, the approach differs from other low-carb diets like the Atkins diet because of its recommendation to consume less sodium and saturated fat. (1)
Weight loss during the Atkins diet may require consuming 16.7 percent of calories from saturated fat, according to the Atkins diet website. (2) Meanwhile, the South Beach Diet recommends consuming only 10 to 15 percent of calories from saturated fat in lieu of ramping up consumption of healthy fats.
In addition, the South Beach Diet doesn’t shy away from some types of carbs: “South Beach in the long run encourages a diet that includes complex carbs — whole grains, beans, lentils, etc. — and fruits,” says Natalie Stephens, RD, at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. “If followed as originally recommended, the South Beach Diet ends up looking similar to the DASH diet: lots of vegetables, fruits, nuts, lean meats, plant-based oils (not coconut oil), and low-fat dairy. That’s actually a very science-based diet.” Stephens notes that such diets have shown health benefits like lowering cholesterol levels and lowering high blood pressure.