in moderation. Very few dietitians have a problem
with this.
A frequent criticism of the Hamptons diet from
those who have tried it is that the recipe ingredients are
often costly and hard to find. Many of the ingredients
called for in the recipes would be unfamiliar to anyone
except a professional chef, and some are quite costly.
For example, the macadamia nut oil recommended by
Dr. Pescatore costs about $10 (as of early 2007) for a
bottle containing 8.5 ounces (slightly more than a cup),
or $18 for a bottle containing16.9 ounces (slightly more
than a pint). In addition, the diet recommends organic,
not just fresh, ingredients,which are almost always more
expensive than nonorganic produce or meats. It is per-
haps not surprising that the Hamptons diet has spawned
a Hamptons Diet Market website, where the dieter may
purchase the ‘‘uniquely healthy products from the
Hamptons world of wellness’’ online.
Another potential drawback of the Hamptons diet
for many people is that many of the recipes require
advance preparation, as much as a day ahead of eating
the dish. Others are time-consuming to cook or assemble
apart from the time required for advance preparation.
Risks
The relatively high fat content of some of the
recipes formulated for the Hamptons diet may be
worrisome for dieters; however, only saturated and
trans-fat pose risks for heart health. Monosaturated
and polyunsaturated fats, including omega-3 fatty
acids, actually promote heart health.
Research and general acceptance
The Hamptons diet have been featured primarily
in celebrity, fashion, and homemaking magazines
rather than in clinical studies. As of 2007, there have
been no clinical trials of the Hamptons diet reported in
mainstream research journals. Pescatore is involved in
two groups listed on his website, presumably to estab-
lish his credentials as a researcher. He is the president
of the AHCC Research Association. As of 2007 he is
also the current president of the International and
American Association of Clinical Nutritionists
(IAACN).
Like theScarsdale diet, the Hampton diet makes
snob appeal an important part of its publicity mate-
rial. A brief article about the Hamptons diet that
appeared inIn Touchmagazine in July 2004 has prom-
inent photographs of the celebrities, who are said to be
current clients of Dr. Pescatore. The article trades on
the reputation of the Hamptons as a summer play-
ground for the wealthy. The official website of the
Hamptons diet has the following description under
the heading of ‘‘Hamptons How-To: Embrace the
Hamptons Lifestyle: Rich, Indulgent, and Thin’’:
‘‘The Hamptons are a forty-mile stretch of land on
the southern shore of Long Island in New York
State. First settled in the mid-1600s, the area boasts
300-year-old trees, hundreds of acres of farmland,
gorgeous dunes, sea cliffs, and stunning beaches. The
Hamptons didn’t really ‘arrive’ until the late 1800s,
when the railroad was built from New York City.
From that era up to the present, the eastern end of
Long Island has been synonymous with the good life:
sun, fun, glamour, and lots of money. The Hamptons
Diet was formulated with the belief that millions of
people want to be thin, rich, and famous—like many
of [Dr. Pescatore’s] clientele.’’Resources
BOOKS
Pescatore, Fred, MD.The Allergy and Asthma Cure: A
Complete 8-Step Nutritional Program. New York:
J. Wiley, 2003.
Pescatore, Fred, MD.Feed Your Kids Well: How to Help
Your Child Lose Weight and Get Healthy. New York:
J. Wiley, 1998.
Pescatore, Fred, MD.The Hamptons Diet: Lose Weight
Quickly and Safely with the Doctor’s Delicious Meal
Plans. Hoboken, NJ: J. Wiley, 2004.
Pescatore, Fred, MD.Thin for Good: The One Low-Carb
Diet That Will Finally Work for You. New York:
J. Wiley, 2000.
Pescatore, Fred, MD, and Jeff Harter.The Hamptons Diet
Cookbook: Enjoy the Hamptons Lifestyle Wherever You
Live. Hoboken, NJ: J. Wiley, 2006.
Scales, Mary Josephine.Diets in a Nutshell: A Definitive
Guide on Diets from A to Z. Clifton, VA: Apex
Publishers, 2005.QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR
DOCTOR What have your other patients liked and disliked
about the Hamptons diet?
What feedback have your patients given you
regarding the recipes?
What is your opinion of the author’s emphasis
on macadamia oil as the ‘‘secret ingredient’’ of
the diet?
What is your opinion of low-carbohydrate diets?
what about diets that differentiate between types
of fat?Hamptons diet