Gary Taubes' New Book

So that apple — a filling package of fiber and vitamins to the Weight Watchers folks — is just a serving of fructose to Mr. Taubes. Fructose is the problematic sugar our bodies turn to fat the most readily, and if you are programmed to be fat, an apple will make you that much fatter.  Mr. Taubes draws an analogy to cigarette smoking: Not every long-term smoker gets lungcancer — in fact, only a minority do — but among people with lung cancer, smoking is by far the most common cause. “In a world without cigarettes, lung cancer would be a rare disease, as it once was,” he writes. “In a world without carbohydrate-rich diets, obesitywould be a rare condition as well.”  How to account for the fact that in virtually all head-to-head comparisons of various diet plans, the average long-term results have invariably been quite similar — mediocre all around? The party line holds that backsliding is universal. Mr. Taubes makes much of the addictive effect of carbohydrates: once you taste them you never forget them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/28/health/28zuger.html

I have a good friend who has struggled with his body weight for some time.  He mentioned that he tried Atkins and lost 40+ pounds, but then stopped Atkins and gained the fat back, plus another 20 pounds.  His conclusion was "I have to figure this weight loss thing out."  This is a very common experience of folks who 'diet.'  

In an interview with Jimmy Moore, Taubes points out - http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/shownotes/2403/the-return-of-gary-taubes-episode-401/ - that this attitude would be like a smoker who quits smoking, feels better, stops coughing, and knows they are healthier - but then starts smoking again and says, "You know, I stopped smoking and felt great, but now I'm smoking again and I feel like crap again.  I have to figure this smoking thing out."  

Why is it obvious that a person who wants to feel better by eliminating cigarettes from their life will have to really stop smoking, but a person who wants to avoid obesity and the diseases of the West by "doing Atkins" can be unclear that if they want the benefits, they have to continue to sustain a rational level of carb consumption?  I assume it is because the idea is not out there yet, it's not widespread enough yet, that much of what our friends and families eat isn't really human food, and it can't be safely eaten for many of us at any level, much like cigarettes.