Slim is beautiful?! - "Slimming treatments" at a glance

We all want to look beautiful. With the concept of "slim is beautiful" dominating the trend of our time, lots of people are turning to body slimming as the way to improve their appearance. From medium-built men to bony office ladies, everyone is in pursuit of achieving desired body weight by enrolling in all sorts of so-called "slimming treatments" or searching for weight loss shortcuts without the need of dieting or exercising. Nevertheless, what do you know about the effectiveness of the "slimming treatments" available on the market?

"Slimming treatments" at a glance

There are probably as many "slimming treatments" available on the market as the number of people seeking for one, but the effectiveness and results of these "treatments" are doubtful. A foreign expert panel has assessed and analysed the claims commonly seen in the advertisements for weight loss food and services. These claims include:

Claims:

• "Lose weight without dieting or exercising."
• "Eat all the high-calorie food you love and still lose weight."

Fact:

Obesity is mainly caused by an excess of the energy intake over the consumption by the body. Therefore, to lose weight successfully, we must target at reducing the intake and increasing the consumption. The 2 parameters depend on a daily control over calorie intake, as well as the amount of exercise done every day. In other words, the most effective way to lose weight is to adopt dietary control (especially reduction in fatty foods) and regular exercise. Nothing can take the place of these two approaches, and any weight loss scheme that purports to be free of dietary control or exercising is not an effective method of losing weight.

Claims:

• "Our products help your body lose weight by blocking absorption of fat or calories."
• "Just rub the product onto your skin and you can lose weight."

Fact:

Efficacy claims for these methods are not supported by sound scientific evidence nowadays. Indiscriminate use of weight loss drugs is futile as a means to control weight in the long run. It can actually cause damages to the body. Lots of drugs available on the market work by suppressing appetite, and this kind of drugs will affect the central nervous system directly, causing serious consequences such as psychic tension, insomnia, depression and body dysfunction. Prolonged consumption of some of these drugs may be addictive, and boost the users' appetite when they stop taking.

Claims:

• "Lose 30 pounds in a month."

Fact:

The faster the speed of weight loss, the more dangerous the method is. For example, diuretics speed up water loss and cause a decrease in body weight in a short time. Such an effect, however, does not last long. Overdosing of diuretics can lead to a derangement of the mineral content in the body which may cause dire consequences such as heart failure or even death.

Claims:

• "Our products work equally well for everyone who uses them."

Fact:

There are a lot of reasons that contribute to obesity. Situations for individuals vary, and there may also be the hereditary and the environmental factors. Moreover, everyone has their own eating habits, the ability of nutrient absorption, metabolic rate, exercising habits, etc. All can influence the efficacy of various weight reduction schemes.

Claims:

• "Try our products/services and the pounds are gone for good. You will never have to go on a diet again."

Fact:

To maintain a normal body weight, we must sustain a healthy lifestyle, which means a balanced diet, consuming right amounts of food, and regular exercise. Studies show that most participants receiving the "slimming treatments" and losing one-tenth of their body weight will regain two-thirds of it back within a year, and almost all of it back within 5 years, if they do not follow a strict dietary control regime and exercise regularly.

(March 2005)