Marilyn Diamond

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Marilyn Diamond
Born
Marilyn Martha Horecker

(1944-06-04)June 4, 1944
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedSeptember 7, 2025(2025-09-07) (aged 81)
Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
Occupations
  • Author
  • spokesperson
Years active1985–2013
Spouse(s)
Peter Neuwirth
​
​
(m. 1965; div. 1973)​
[1]
Harvey Diamond
​
​
(m. 1976; div. 1993)​
[1]
Donald Schnell
​
​
(m. 1994; div. 2014)​
[1]
Children3

Marilyn Martha Diamond (née Horecker; June 4, 1944 – September 7, 2025) was an American author and speaker on the topic of anti-aging and longevity. She was known for advocating a "cleansing" or "detoxification" diet.

Life and career

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Marilyn Martha Horecker was born in Washington, D.C. on June 4, 1944, the daughter of Bernard and Frances (née Goldstein) Horecker. Her father was a biochemist and served as dean of the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.[1] She grew up in Maryland and New York, and graduated from New York University in 1968, where she studied the Romance languages.[1]

In 1985,[2] with her then husband Harvey Diamond, she co-authored the best-selling health and wellness book Fit for Life.[3] The book built on the natural health movement that had roots in 19th century, and was part of the development of the fascination with celebrity beauty in contemporary American culture.[4]

Diamond's ideas about diet and aging have been the subject of controversy in the media.[5][6][7] In particular, nutritionists disagree with her assertion that some foods should not be eaten together.[8]

Personal life and death

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Diamond was married three times and had three children, a daughter and two sons.[1] She died from complications of dementia in Roanoke, Virginia, on September 7, 2025, at the age of 81.[1]

Publications

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Books

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  • Diamond, Marilyn (2010). Fit for Life. Grand Central Life & Style/Hachette. pp. 336 pages. ISBN 978-0446553643.
  • Diamond, Marilyn (2013). Young for Life: The Easy No-Diet, No-sweat Plan to Look and Feel 10 Years Younger. Rodale Books. pp. 352 pages. ISBN 978-1609615420.
  • Diamond, Marilyn (1987). A New Way of Eating from the Fit for Life Kitchen. Grand Central Publishing. pp. 176 pages. ISBN 1609615425.
  • Diamond, Marilyn (1998). Fitonics for Life. Avon. pp. 448 pages. ISBN 0380789671.[9]
  • Diamond, Marilyn (1990). The American Vegetarian Cookbook from the Fit for Life Kitchen. Grand Central Publishing. pp. 422 pages. ISBN 0380789671.
  • Diamond, Marilyn (1987). Living Health. Grand Central Publishing. pp. 468 pages. ISBN 0380789671.
  • Diamond, Marilyn (1998). Recipes for Life: From the Fitonics Kitchen. Avon Books. pp. 353 pages. ISBN 0380789671.
  • Diamond, Marilyn (1991). The Fit for Life Cookbook. Bantam Books. pp. 449 pages. ISBN 0553404067.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Risen, Clay (September 12, 2025). "Marilyn Diamond, Who Wrote a Blockbuster Diet Book, Dies at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  2. ^ Lesley Rotchford (February 8, 2013). "Diets through history: The good, the bad and the scary". CNN.
  3. ^ Dal LaMagna (September 16, 2010). Raising Eyebrows: A Failed Entrepreneur Finally Gets it Right. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 109–. ISBN 978-0-470-92143-2.
  4. ^ Christopher Ziguras (June 2, 2004). Self-care: Embodiment, Personal Autonomy and the Shaping of Health Consciousness. Routledge. pp. 69–. ISBN 978-1-134-41969-2.
  5. ^ Rose Dosti (March 20, 1986). "Book May Remain No. 1 Among Readers, but Nutritionists Don't Agree : Diamonds' 'Fit for Life' Theory Refuted by Experts". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ "Fit for Life". Diets in Review.
  7. ^ Lucy Moll (September 1986). "Between the lines of 'Fit For Life'". Vegetarian Times. No. 109. Active Interest Media, Inc. pp. 39–43. ISSN 0164-8497.
  8. ^ Carrie Wiatt (October 17, 2011). "Fruit: Fads, Digestion and Cleanses". Huffington Post.
  9. ^ "Fitonics For Life Review"[permanent dead link]. Diet Spotlight.