You may have him confused with someone else. Richard's message has been "Diet and Exercise" for decades. Remember the deal-a-meal program? It was a simple, card-based system to help people eat a balanced diet.
Fads come and go, and Richard has always said: "Diet and exercise". Celebrities pimp-out abdominizers and thigh-masters, and Richard said: "Diet and Exercise". The grapefruit seed and popcorn diet hit, and Richard said: "Diet and Exercise".
Richard isn't appropriate for evan a moderate health enthusiast, but that's not his market. He wants the fatties (particularly older ones) who need his message the most. Remember that the health benefits of a 260 lb fattie getting down to 220 is vastly better than a 220 lb in-shape person getting down to 208 for a show.