Diet riot is never quiet: adherents crave fights as they pass the pate. (Life).

The biggest controversy in Hollywood lately has not been dirty Oscar campaigning, the Republican resurgence or Winona's jury pool.

It has been diets.

Mention at a party that you are an avid carnivore or exclusively a dandelion eater and you will be sure to start a battle royale.

In this image-obsessed biz after all, it's not enough to have an eating plan--you've got to share it with others. Awareness of who is eating what and why has never been higher.

Partisans will proselytize about high-fat, low-fat or low-carb eating with all the fervor of an evangelical minister before a tent full of sinners. Woe betide any soul who does not share their passion.

Reduced to their essence (and stirred well), causes celeb include:

* Atkins, in which refined carbohydrates are gradually eliminated;

* The Zone, which advocates a "40-30-30" balance of carbs, fat and protein;

* Food combining, in which proteins and fats are not paired but other elements are;

* Sugar-free plans, which, compared with many other byzantine diets, are refreshingly comprehensible.

Diet riots often spill into the workplace, where more and more execs are getting precisely measured morsels hand-delivered in a modern twist on the term "meals on wheels."

Given their convictions, it's no surprise so many of those embracing …