At least in terms of changing peoples’ dietary habits–we don’t know yet what the long-term health effects will be.

The preaching of Atkins and the other proponents of lower-carbohydrate diets is starting to have an effect. National meat consumption is up, and high-glycemic carb purchases are down. And the carb vendors don’t like it.

…by teaching people to severely limit the use of flour-based products, Atkins is eating into sales of some bread and cereal products in the United States.

“Our industry has to do something, and soon. It is starting to become a mainstream belief that carbohydrates are bad,” said Judi Adams, director of the Wheat Foods Council, a consortium of industry players that includes ConAgra, General Mills and Kellogg Co.

“This Atkins diet — or, I call it Fatkins diet — is going out unchallenged. People are starting to believe it,” Adams said.

Maybe because, for many people, it works?