Dean Ornish
MD. Physician who founded the Preventive Medicine Research Institute; wrote Eat More, Weigh Less (1993).
Ornish's program pairs a very-low-fat whole-foods diet with exercise, stress management and group support; it is now covered by Medicare as intensive cardiac rehabilitation. It is not vegan: nonfat dairy and egg whites are allowed.
Whose words we use: His papers, letters and on-camera words are his. Staff-written ornish.com pages speak for the program, not for him.
Evidence behind the weight-loss advice: RCT for heart outcomes; modest results in independent weight trials.
Positions by topic
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Calorie density
Choosing foods with fewer calories per pound is the main way to lose weight without counting calories.
AgreesOn camera Ornish says calories count, but argues that cutting fat lets you eat the same amount of food with far fewer calories: change the kind of food, not the amount. His program's written guidelines add portion control for weight loss, which he does not say himself in his videos.
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Nuts and seeds
Nuts and seeds should be cut out or strictly limited for weight loss.
Partly agreesOrnish's program allows nuts only in tiny measured servings, such as five almonds, within a small daily allowance.
- Ornish program nutrition guidelines (archived)Organization page
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Oil
Added oil should be cut out completely for weight loss.
AgreesThe program's guidelines exclude added fats and oils and cap fat at 10% of calories, though occasional low-fat packaged foods may contain traces of oil. Ornish himself presents fat as the most calorie-dense part of the diet.