• Bernarr Macfadden was the Elvis of American health—the charismatic, photogenic vessel through whom a lot of scary ideas were amplified and made palatable for a mass audience. Where would other diet and exercise gurus fit on the pop charts? Here’s a handy conversion table to simplify things.


    John Harvey Kellogg : Bing Crosby


    Joseph Pilates : Buddy Holly


    Arnold Schwarzenegger : Tom Jones


    Richard Simmons : Leo Sayer


    Andrew Weil : John Mayer


    Dean Ornish : Leonard Cohen


    Robert Atkins : Meatloaf


    Bob Greene : Late-period Paul McCartney


    The ‘Skinny Bitch’ duo : Sonny and Cher (or maybe Cher x 2)


    Kevin Trudeau : Milli Vanilli