When Sanford Siegal was growing up in Squirrel Hill, the idea of one day being known as "the Cookie Doctor" might have seemed kind of crazy.
But then, the idea of losing weight by consuming cookies would, too.
An alumnus of Allderdice High School who attended Duquesne University for a short while before graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Siegal attended medical school at Iowa University and eventually set up practice in the Miami area.
He said he was surprised to see so many overweight patients in his practice, which began in 1957. Many also had thyroid problems, and to help them drop weight quickly, he created his meal-replacement plan.
"We couldn't begin to attack their real problems until we attacked their weight problems," said Dr. Siegal, 81.
He acknowledges that although the cookie diet is simple, it takes commitment. Anyone stopping before reaching his or her goal weight runs the risk of backsliding.
"I suspect it [the diet] is not for everybody, but there's hardly anything in this world that is for everybody."
His cookies -- there are other products as well but the cookies are the big seller -- come in a variety of flavors, including oatmeal raisin and chocolate. They are sold in GNC stores, at kiosks in malls, and some retail outlets.
Dr. Siegal said he's amused that there is a Cookie Diet store around the block from Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles.
"That's where we see the celebrity customers, although they don't always go there themselves. It's sort of interesting: the paparazzi patrol up and down the street. They want to know who is visiting the plastic surgeons, who's buying our diet cookies."
First Published: December 28, 2009, 10:00 a.m.