He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1951 and received a medical degree from Cornell University Medical School in 1955, after which he specialized in cardiology. Atkins has also advocated the use of vitamins and herbal remedies in place of pharmaceutical drugs and surgery for healing certain ailments.

On April 18, 2002, Atkins suffered cardiac arrest, which he and his doctor said was due to cardiomyopathy, a heart condition not related to diet.

On April 8, 2003, Atkins slipped on ice and fell in front of his medical office in New York City and sustained major head injuries that put him in a coma. He never recovered from his injuries and died on April 17. Ironically, Atkins' medical records stated he was clinically obese at the time of his death. However, this was likely due to fluid retention following the failure of his major organs after his fall. Medical records obtained by USA Today show his weight to be 195 pounds upon admission to the hospital following his fall on April 8, 2003.

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