Developed by cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston, this diet first became popular in Miami. It was developed into book form, and is now a worldwide best seller.

The weight loss advice focuses on a healthy balance between good carbohydrates and fats. The idea is to decrease ‘bad’ carbs (eg baked goods and soft drinks) to help you metabolise what you eat better. The South Beach dietary programme also claims to improve insulin resistance, leading to weight loss.
While there are three phases to the plan – the first of which is about banishing your carvings and, to some, can be daunting - this diet plan aims to change your dietary lifestyle. The last phase is meant to change the way you eat forever.
While for the first two weeks of the plan you are not allowed bread, rice potatoes etc, for most of the diet you'll eat normal-size helpings of meat, poultry and fish as well as vegetables, eggs, cheese, and nuts.

You’ll gradually re-introduce foods as the plan progresses, albeit in smaller portions. To maintain your healthy weight for the rest of your life, you’ll follow the South Beach ‘rules’. Not as scary as it sounds, healthy eating is something that we should all follow, lifelong.

Like the Atkins diet, if there are lots of foods you don’t enjoy or you cannot stick to a diet where food stuffs are restricted (even in the short term), this may not be the diet for you.