Fat farms' rift leaves relationship gutted.

• Author: Martin, Edward
• Position: Tar Heel Tattler - Duke University Medical Center cutsed ties with Rice Diet Program - Brief Article

Considering that dieters pay thousands of dollars in fees at Durham's fat farms, it's a wonder that this battle of the bulge didn't break out sooner. In July, Duke University Medical Center severed ties with the famous Rice Diet Program. For decades, the program had operated as a division of the medical center, with its two physicians and six staffers on Duke's payroll.

Duke officials won't say what caused the rift, but Rice Diet staff say it's about interdepartmental feuding. not the well-being of overweight patients. In 1969, Duke opened the rival Diet and Fitness Center. "It's obvious there's a matter of competition," says Francis Neelon, an endocrinologist on the Rice Diet staff. "They tolerated us, but that was about all," adds Robert Rosati, the Rice Diet medical director.

A university spokesman would say only that bonds between the diet program and medical center had weakened. "They've been pretty much on their own for a decade anyway," Jeff Molter says.

Both programs feature four-week regimens. Clients spend their days exercising, eating right and attending classes. The Rice Diet's fee is $4,200, and the Diet and...