Michel Montignac, like his father, suffered from excess weight during his youth.

After studying Political Science and specializing in the Social Sciences, he went on to become an international executive for the pharmaceutical industry. At the end of the 1970s he decided to start researching in the field of nutrition with the aim of overcoming his own weight problems.

On the basis of the scientific documents available to him because of his work, Michel Montignac designed the principles of an original method for losing weight and became the first person to have had the idea of using the Glycemic Index Concept (practically unknown at the time) to lose weight.

He first tested the innovative nutritional principles on himself and rid himself of over 30 pounds in less than three months. This is how he proved that it is possible to lose weight without depriving ourselves of calories, simply by making the right choices.

In 1986 he wrote his first book: Dine Out and Lose Weight. This book is basically geared at businessmen who, like himself at the time, have a professional obligation to eat out frequently.

Published on his own account, the book rapidly became a bestseller in France, where 550 000 copies were sold. This astonishing success encouraged Montignac to put together a specialized scientific team and delve deeper into his scientific inquiries.

At the end of 1987, he published his famous book Eat Yourself Slim… and Stay Slim! a layman’s version of the Montignac Method. This book is such a great success that it is sold in many countries and has broken sales records in its field with over 16 million copies sold by the end of 2004.

Michel Montignac, who was soon recognized as an eminent researcher in the field of nutrition, decided to dedicate himself completely to his scientific endeavors and to publishing his findings.

In 2010, Michel Montignac died of prostrate cancer at the age of 65.  He is survived by his wife, Suzy; their children Joseph and Peter; and by three children from his first mariage, Charles, Emeric and Sybille.

The world has lost a visionary, but the Montignac Method lives on. His spirit will forever be part of the company he founded, Nutrimont, which intends to build on his inspirational Method to continue helping people maintain weight loss for a lifetime.

For further information on Michel Montignac’s books

For further information on the Montignac Method