Quick Weight Loss or Quackery

Cellulite - Reduce The Appearance				energy, says
---------------------------------				Berg, pointing out that when people see desired
Sallie Elizabeth has always had large breasts and a				results with
big				normally passive devices and treatments, it's usually
bottom, and she has accepted them as part of her				because they've also made efforts to eat well or
genetic				exercise.Truth With A Twist
makeup. But when cellulite appeared in the back of				----------------
her upper				Berg coordinates the Task Force on Weight Loss
leg, she "freaked out" and resolved to do something				Abuse for the
about				National Council Against Health Fraud, which gives out
it.A friend recommended endermologie, a deep				annual Slim Chance Awards to selected weight loss
massage treatment				products.This year's "worst gimmick" prize went out to
using a motorized device with two adjustable rollers				MagnaSlim,
and				which claims to relieve stress and its byproduct of
controlled suction. The device is said to improve the				overeating by placing magnets and a magnetized
look				solution at
of cellulite by gently folding and unfolding the skin for				specific acupuncture points. The magnet at the
smooth and regulated deep-tissue movement.The				acupressure
cellulite is "less visible," she says, noting her				point would supposedly improve cell function, restore
smoother, softer skin. "I feel healthier. My circulation				Chi
has				(life force energy), and give a person more control
improved ... and I feel more relaxed."To keep up the				over
effects, the 20-something model visits Smooth				what they put in their mouths.Weight loss promoters
Synergy, a cosmedical spa in Manhattan, once or				have long cashed in on the concept of
twice a week				acupressure and magnetic therapy for weight loss,
for 35-minute sessions with the endermologie machine				even
and a				though there is no proof it works, says Berg. Items
technician.Elizabeth may be enjoying her				using
cellulite-busting experience,				similar concepts on the market include magnetic
but experts raise eyebrows at many tools or				weight-loss
treatments				earrings, adhesives, beads, and seeds.It is apparently
purported to reduce the appearance of cellulite, trim				not uncommon for manufacturers to piggyback
fat in				on ideas and studies that may have genuine validity,
specific areas, shed pounds, or build muscle,				and
particularly				twist them for commercial purposes.Another example
if they claim to replace exercise and good				would be the electrical muscle stimulators
nutrition."They're a waste of money," says Richard				(EMS) promoted to do anything from slough off
Cotton, a spokesman				weight to tone
for the American Council on Exercise and chief				muscle to form six-pack abs. Some ads claim this is
exercise				possible
physiologist for If that is the case, then a sizeable				without exercise.Health experts scoff at such an idea,
chunk of currency could				but do say EMS is a
be going down the drain. According to a Federal				valuable tool for physical therapy. "There are times
Trade				when
Commission (FTC) weight loss advertising trend				that really helps," says Anderson, pointing to
report, in				rehabilitation programs for people with physical injuries
the year 2000 alone, consumers spent an estimated				or
$34.7				stroke-related debilitation."The problem I have with it is
billion on weight-loss products and programs.While it is				if it's being marketed as
not known how much of that accounts for sales of				muscle stimulation, and that will help you tone up and
unproven or fraudulent merchandise, an FTC study of				lose
weight				weight," says Anderson. "Well, it probably will help you
loss ads from different media shows that nearly 40%				tone a little bit, but it shouldn't take place of being more
of ads
make at least one false claim, and an additional 15%				active and looking at how many calories we put in our
make at				mouth
least one claim that is very likely false, or lacks				each day."Gad Alon, PhD, associate professor in the
proof.To add to the number soup: Results from a				department of
national health				physical therapy and rehabilitation science at the
survey conducted between 1999 and 2000 indicate				University of Maryland in Baltimore, has studied the
that more				effects
than six out of every 10 Americans are overweight or				of EMS, and many promoters often refer to his
obese,				research in
a figure that has increased dramatically in recent				peddling their wares.He says many of these
years.Another recent survey that looked at the				marketers misuse his work, saying
attitudes of				things like, "Seven physicians at the University of
Americans adults toward their own weight found that				Maryland
despite				have concluded that you may never have to do
the fact that two-thirds of men were considered				sit-ups again."First of all, says Alon, there were no
overweight,				physicians present
only about half (51%) said they wanted to lose weight				for the studies; he and his students conducted the
versus				studies,
68% of women who said they wanted to lose				and they never addressed the topic of weight
weight.Put it all together and there are arguably more				loss.Alon warns, though, that some EMS devices in the
people				market
wanting to use weight loss products, and according to				might not have the proper specifications to work
the				properly.
government's trend report, the "marketplace has				He says they may use electrodes that do not have
responded				good
with a proliferating array of products and services,				conductivity, or some may be too small to cover large
many				muscle
promising miraculous, quick-fix remedies."There are,				areas.The Damage and what to do with it
indeed, numerous therapies, including weight loss				--------------------------------
programs and dietary supplements. Then there are				Some of the weight loss gadgets may seem too
the popular				good to be
treadmills, bun and ab rollers, the body bow, and bun				true, yet even smart people fall for them. Why are
and				people so
thigh max.For this piece, however, WebMD looked				willing to believe these quick and easy
only into passive				schemes?"Hope springs eternal," says Edward
exercise devices such as electrical muscle stimulators				Abramson, PhD, a
and				clinical psychologist, and author of Emotional Eating:
toning tables, cellulite reduction therapies, and gels,				What
creams, eyeglasses, earrings and similar doodads				You Need to Know Before Starting Another Diet. He
marketed				says
for weight loss, and muscle-building.Granted, not all				people are always looking for a shortcut, especially
remedies may be the same, but health				for
professionals say far too many of them can't be				difficult, ongoing problems.Besides losing money on
trusted.Passive Weight Loss				bunk products, however, consumers
-------------------				could get their hopes dashed. Abramson says
To Elizabeth's credit, she tries to eat right, jog, do				repeated
Pilates, and perform squats to supplement her				disappointments with weight loss could undermine a
endermologie				person's
sessions. In fact, good nutrition and regular physical				overall sense of well-being. He says some people
activity are recommended with the				could even
treatment.However, many weight loss, cellulite-busting,				internalize blame to a point that could lead to eating
and				disorders.Berg adds that false weight loss systems
muscle-building products promise results without				and goods could
having to				also prevent people from seeking real treatment,
do too much."It's the idea that an individual can get to				interfere
the body size				with responsible programs that do work, and promote
they want without any increase in physical activity or				distrust
without any change in eating," says Jennifer Anderson,				of the medical community.To avoid falling prey to such
PhD,				schemes, the FDA says
RD, professor and extension specialist at Colorado				consumers should be particularly skeptical of claims
State				containing words like easy, effortless, guaranteed,
University's department of food science and human				miraculous, magical, breakthrough, new discovery,
nutrition.She simply laughs at appetite-suppressing				mysterious, exotic, secret, exclusive, and ancient.The
eyeglasses, weight				experts interviewed by WebMD also recommend
loss patches and chewing gum, toning gels, fat-melting				concentrating on weight-management strategies that
				are
creams, and evening solutions that claim to trim				proven to work, such as incorporating a balanced diet
waistlines				with
during sleep."In some instances, it's a total gimmick,"				reduced calories with a regular exercise regimen.
says Anderson.				Some tips
"In other instances, it will reduce a lot of water weight				include:Eat more fruits and vegetables. Foods high in
quickly, but it's never going to change eating behaviors,				fiber such as
				whole grain breads, fruit, and cereal can help you feel
activity levels, and make that the key to their				full
lifestyle."This quick water weight loss never leads to				longer.Exercise. Get 30 minutes of physical activity a
real, long-term				day even if
weight loss, says Anderson, noting that the only				you must split it in 10-minute increments throughout the
weight loss
and toning plan that works involves eating well and				day. Try to exercise on most days of the week;
moving				choose an
your body.Furthermore, she says there is no proof				activity you enjoy. Start slowly and then add more
that cellulite can				days as
be massaged away or taken out by injections of				tolerated.Be accepting. Accept your body the way it
vitamins,				is.
special underwear, or use of other gizmos. To get rid				Maintain. Instead of having a goal to lose weight, think
of the				of
dimpled fat, weight must be shed, and skin made				not gaining it, says Anderson.Be aware of your mind
firmer by				and body while you exercise. Cotton
doing strength training.Francie M. Berg, a licensed				says it helps not to read magazines or watch TV
nutritionist, and founder of the				while
Healthy Weight Network, agrees. "If you want to tone				working out. "When you're present, you're better able
your				to
body or become more fit, you need to do the work.				make decisions about your habits ... and your true
It's not				needs,"
lying on a table, and having [a gadget] lift your feet,"				he says.Source: WebMDYou have permission to
she				publish this article electronically or
says referring to no-effort toning tables, beds, and				in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are
machines.The value of toning and weight loss				included.
equipment depends on how				A courtesy copy of your publication would be
much work you can get a person to do to burn				appreciated.

Halstead Hospital

Quick Weight Loss or Quackery