French medical experts have filed complaints against celebrity diet guru Pierre Dukan, whose weight loss formula was reportedly used by the Middleton family ahead of Kate’s wedding to Prince William.
The man behind the Dukan Diet Cookbook... is accused of failing to observe two articles in the doctor’s code: lacking prudence in statements potentially damaging public health and of practising medicine as a business
Both the French and the Parisian Medical Councils accuse Mr Dukan, who promotes a high-protein diet that has seen him sell millions of books and win over thousands of famous followers, of breaking professional rules.
The man behind the Dukan Diet Cookbook, which he is currently promoting in the United States, is accused of failing to observe two articles in the doctor’s code: lacking prudence in statements potentially damaging public health and of practising medicine as a business.
Dr Dukan recommended in January that students in their final two years of high school be awarded extra marks if they manage to maintain an acceptable body mass index.
He is accused of failing to take into account how his recommendation might affect anorexic or overweight students.
Dr Dukan’s publicist claims that he has sold 4.5 million books in France and around five million in the rest of the world, although the exact amount of money made is not public.
Dr Dukan’s lawyer insisted that his client has behaved no differently from other doctors with a public profile and argued that he had raised a genuine public health issue.
“The fact that people are not indifferent to this book proves that it raises a major public health problem,” said Isabelle Lucas-Baloup.
“Is a doctor advertising himself because he answers an interview request?” she said, noting that Dr Dukan’s being summoned did not amount to a condemnation.
France’s health and nutrition watchdog Anses has warned that certain diets can damage the kidneys because of an excess of proteins.
In July, Dr Dukan lost a defamation suit against diet guru rival Jean-Michel Cohen who criticised his system.