Beverly Hills Diet founder dead at 63

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Oct 29th 2007 9:36PM

Categories: Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products

Judy Mazel, the founder of the controversial Beverly Hills Diet, is dead at the age of 63, according to this article on Diet Blog. Mazel died on October 12th of complications from peripheral vascular disease.

The Beverly Hills Diet was criticized frequently by nutritionists and experts, and it's easy to see why. The main premise behind the diet was that food combinations were at the heart of weight loss. So, only one food group could be eaten at a time, and on the first 10 days of the program, dieters would eat nothing but fruit. The diet was unhealthy, bizarre and not based on real scientific evidence, but it's what Mazel says helped her lose 72 lbs and maintain a svelte 108 lbs for the remainder of her short life.

I don't know what specifically caused Mazel's death but 63 is too young to die, if you ask me.

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Comments (77)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

kaye 10-30-2007 @ 10:20AM

That just goes to show you how far people will go to lose weight. It doesnt really matter what you eat But how much you eat. You cant eat more than your body needs and stay normal size. If you eat more than you should then you should counter it by eating less afterwards to make up for it. Simple but true. Try it.

Ted 10-30-2007 @ 9:36AM

Fad diets are just that - Fads. The age old secret to weight loss is still the best. Eat healthy, just cutting back on calories and increase activity. Weird diets may work in the short term, but all they really accomplish is setting you up for failure.

Kim 10-30-2007 @ 9:38AM

We are all trying to find the answers to weight loss. It is a simple and eating healthy. What a shame 63 is so very young to go!
By the way I am a 300 pound women, I have lost weight, next time when I do it I need to learn to eat healthy for the rest of my life! I have to learn moderation!

Carol Thomas 10-30-2007 @ 9:40AM

It makes you wonder if her "diet" played a part in her death.

crazyone2 10-30-2007 @ 9:40AM

kaye
You are 100 % right.
Its not what you eat its how much of it you eat.Cut down on your servings .Go for a walk .Jog,Bike Ride, swim whatever you like to do.In no time you will be fit.

Margaret n. Lutteral, Esq., (p.s. nobody has my same name 10-30-2007 @ 9:41AM

THE BEST DIET I KNOW IS TO CLOSE YOUR MOUTH AND WALK MORE.

OF COURSE, I HAVEN'T MADE MILLONS WRITING A BOOK, BUT I'M A HEALTHLY 70 YEARS OLD WOMAN.

FAIRLY HAPPY, I MUST ADD.

Susan 10-30-2007 @ 4:49PM

First of all, I'm so HAPPY that people are now expected to register before making any or all comments! Bravo! I never followed the New Beverly Hills Diet, but keep my own healthy diet to fruits, grains, vegetables & lean meats. I do moderate excercise & stay a healthy 138lbs. By the way, I'm perimenopausal w/low platelets and taking minor medication for both. I feel great and look great at 49!

Sandra 10-30-2007 @ 9:47AM

My grandmother never exercised, lived on junk food, smoked until she was 75 and had a shot of Jack Daniels every day like clockwork.
Her funeral was held on what would have been her 103rd birthday. You can be as obsessed with your diet and health as you want, but a lot depends on your genes.

rick 10-30-2007 @ 10:26AM

Why would anyone suggest that it does not matter what you eat? A healthy lifestyle includes a balanced diet, including adequate fiber, and a balance of caloric intake with a reasonable amount of exercise.

bill 10-30-2007 @ 10:01AM

This goes to show you that most diets result in some form of failure.It's really quite simple ,eat in moderation and get at least (30) minutes of brisk excerise a day .

cb 10-30-2007 @ 9:53AM

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, "svelte" means "slender, lithe"...unless Ms. Mazel was 5' 2" or shorter, I can't imagine how 108 lbs. would qualify her as "slender." More likely, a person of that size should be referred to as "skinny, extremely thin, emaciated, stick figure-like," etc. No wonder our preteen girls are dieting and obsessing about their weight, when society considers any female over a size 4 to be "fat." How about we just focus on getting HEALTHY instead of trying to diet/exercise ourselves into bodies that resemble young boys, rather than the natural curvy shape that WOMEN are by nature designed to be?!

D 10-30-2007 @ 9:54AM

You really want to know the secret for weight loss and maintaining it - visit www.heidihype.com. She lost 100 lbs in ONE YEAR and was featured on ABC Extreme Makeover - If she can do it being obese for over 30 years YOU CAN TOO!

love,
her sis!!

Way to go Heidi!

Victoria 10-30-2007 @ 7:14PM

Losing weight isn't about going on a diet. It's about making lifestyle changes including exercising. Most people want to lose weight while still eating junk food and sitting on the couch. It's just not going to happen.

Chew 10-30-2007 @ 10:25AM

Yes, much is dependent upon genes and this is why doctors collect family histories, but you do not tempt fate, or should I say, the Lord, and ignore health "laws". It is well known among the medical industry that each and every organ in our bodies is replenished (replaced) every seven years. Hence, it is never too late to end unhealthy practices. Rather, it is wise to take care of what the good Lord gave you regardless of what your dealt with.

Toni 10-30-2007 @ 10:10AM

MY mother used to say "Eat everything in moderation" and " Exercise is good and the best exercise is pushing yourself away from the table 3 times a day." Fad diets don't always work and worse they can be downright dangerous. I guess the damage was already done and irreversible when Judy Mazel decided it was time to crack down. What a shame! 63 is WAY too young to die.

Crystal 10-30-2007 @ 10:19AM

When you eat, it takes your body about 15-20 minutes before digesting. If you stuff yourself and eat quickly, your body can't tell when you are full, and cannot digest all of the food. This turns in to fat and sits there.

The secret is to eat small, healthy portions when you feel hungry, but just enough to fill that hunger, don't over do it. If you are full then you are full!!

I am 27 and weigh about 118, I eat ALL DAY, almost every hour, but I eat small amounts. I also don't fret about fried foods and snacks, if you enjoy it eat it, of course in small amounts.
Most people don't realize that a "portion" should be no bigger than your fist, so you dinner plate should consist of equal fist sized portions of everything on your plate.

camporossa 10-30-2007 @ 10:26AM

Well...she should look at the bright side. Shes going to lose all the weight she ever wanted to now!

ken wayne 10-30-2007 @ 10:27AM

Warren Buffett was told by his doctor to change his diet of good food or excercise more. He chose to exercise more, simple but it works, I walk everyday right after dinner.

Gina 10-30-2007 @ 10:29AM

In essence, her 'one food group at a time' theory which worked for her, UNTIL NOW, was actually HER way of cutting down on calories. She assumed that this was a sure thing for everybody and decided to make money off of it, unfortunately for everyone who tried her unorthodox diet.

People will try anything rather that eating healthy but cutting DOWN on the calories and EXERCISING!