TIPTOPMANAGER-you say you haven't tried the diet, but you seem to think you have all the answers regarding sufficient vitamins, minerals, fiber.  You also stated that 60% of patients are prescribed appetite suppressants and another 25% require thyroid hormone replacements.  This diet teaches a person what and how much to eat.  If you are wise and use the tools provided to you during this diet, you will not gain weight after you are off the diet.  How do I know?  Because I have tried it and several of my friends have tried it.  As a matter of fact one of my good friends who had problems with her diabetes has finally been able to control her high sugar spikes.  This diet is not for the person who thinks that this is a quick fix.  It's tough and puts you in the drivers seat.  You reap the benefits of this diet from the effort that you put into it. 

Patients who are on the cookie diet are not given appetite suppressants, they are given supplemental vitamins that need to be taken everyday which is part of the plan and you can have unlimited amounts of certain vegetables during the day that don't have calories or sugars in them.  The dinner vegetables are in addition to whatever vegetables you eat during the day.  You get plenty of fiber and minerals from the evening meal in a healthy salad alone, and remember the daily vitamins that you take everyday, yup, you guessed it, more minerals.

I have managed to loose the 20 lbs that I started out loosing and have even lost an additional 5 pounds since then without even trying.  It has been almost a year since I've started the diet and am happy with my results.  My husband has even commented on my choice of foods now stating that "you eat anything you want and you haven't put on any weight"  I am excited about my new weight and feel great about myself, but what do I know, I'm pumped with diet suppressants and thyroid hormones.  Imagine that.