AbstractTwelve popular diets from books and magazines published in 1982 are reviewed, with special attention paid to the nutritional and psychological maneuvers they employ for achieving weight loss. Representative three‐day menus are analyzed for their nutrient contributions. Specific techniques employed to motivate or promote adherence to the diet are also cataloged. The diets vary greatly on both of these dimensions. Health professionals need to analyze critically popular diets before assuming that these are appropriate for patient