DR. KUSHNER'S PERSONALITY TYPE DIET

Kushner, medical director of the Wellness Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, believes that diets don't work unless they match the dieter's personality. Even before determining which diet personality they have, people need to understand how "scaling up" has impacted their lives. This means looking back and seeing their weight losses and gains over a period of years. Then, people can answer a questionnaire designed to show their diet profile. These questions focus on type and time food is consumed, exercise program and coping strategies; readers can then see which diet and exercise profile best describes them. Among the eating profiles are nighttime nibblers, mindless munchers and deprived sneakers. For each of the various profiles, Kushner offers advice on following a diet, coping with stress, exercise and more. His suggestions will resonate with readers familiar with self-help books. For example, when discussing people with low self-esteem, the author suggests focusing on self-affirmation and spelling out their positive traits, even if they have to ask a friend to help them list these qualities. There are some "scaling down" recipes along with suggestions for healthier eating, but the book does not offer a meal-by-meal diet. The upbeat tone and the psychological approach add to the book's appeal, but some dieters may prefer a specific eating program rather than having to design their own plan. (Jan.)

Forecast:Key author appearances will generate some buzz, but whether the book will outshine the other new entries in the crowded diet arena remains to be seen.