Yates's cashes in on fashionable Atkins

High-street bar chain Yates's is cashing in on the thousands of people making New Year resolutions to shift some weight.

It has launched a low-carbohydrate menu to make the most of the current popularity of the controversial Atkins diet.

The new menu has been launched in all Yates's for a trial period.

"We are responding to increasing concern about obesity," said Yates's head of food Richard Gornall.

"We have a great range on our normal menu but we want to take that further and offer customers an option if they are Atkins fans."

Yates's new menu includes the Yates's breakfast - three rashers of bacon, three sausages, three fried eggs and mushrooms - and the Yates's burger - char-grilled chicken breast topped with melted cheese and sandwiched between two 6oz beef burgers finished with sour cream and served with mushrooms and side salad.

The low-carb diet developed by Dr Atkins is enormously popular in America and took off in Britain last year.

But medical experts believe cutting out carbs in favour of proteins and foods that are high in saturated fats can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease and other illnesses. Last year the Food Standards Agency issued advice about the dangers of low-carb diets and recommended a healthy, balanced diet instead.

In the United States many restaurants, including national chain TGI Fridays, have Atkins-friendly menus. But in the UK many pubs, restaurants and supermarkets have shied away from offering low-carb options because of the alleged health risk.