Is this a case where everyone wants to believe the worse? Dr. Robert Atkins died on April 17, 2003. Here's a first hand report from a blogger journalist, Susan Orenstein, who met him in February 2003 and had these pictures taken on February 24th. He does not look obese. Hard to believe he was 258 pounds at death unless he went on some massive binge.

This USA Today story also confirms he was