The back story: High-protein diets remain popular. Atkins and other low-carbohydrate diets rely on high consumption of protein. Though the Atkins diet has come under fire for being high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables, recent research indicates that a diet rich in lean proteins, such as chicken, turkey and fish, mixed with complex carbs and beneficial fats, may aid weight loss without adverse effects.

Scientists believe they may have cracked the reason why protein-rich diets, such as Atkins, curb hunger.

Now the latest mantra is: Beef up your lean protein.

Another day another diet. But while the latest weight-loss bible to be published in the UK has, unusually, been created by a well-respected research institute, it is already attracting controversy.

A new study in the October 5 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (vol. 97 pp. 1458-1465), reports that a diet high in red or processed meats may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer by as much as 70%.