The Truth About "Quick Fix" Diets

In our society, thin is in. We are bombarded with daily images of what America sees as attractive: muscle-bound men and slender, long-legged women. We have become programmed to view fat, bulges, and dimply bodies as ugly. Entrepreneurs have risen to occasion, and we are inundated with ads that promise rapid weight loss, miracle drugs, and permanent results.

How effective are this diet aids and diet fads?

• Appetite suppressants: While most of these products, whether over the counter or by prescription, really do shut down our cravings for food, they can have serious side effects. They usually contain some kind of stimulant, whether caffeine, ephedra, or some other form of central nervous system stimulation. Side effects are very common and can include tremors, irritability, jumpiness, sleeplessness, or upset stomach.
• More serious side effects include heart palpitations, and in some cases, heart disease. Use appetite suppressants only with the blessing and direction of your doctor, and use them only as directed. This is not a case of "if one is good, two must be better."
• Pills, diets, and programs that offer rapid weight loss: most medical experts agree that rapid weight loss is not only ineffective, it’s also potentially harmful. Sure, you can drop 10 pounds a week if you starve yourself, but you can’t maintain that weight loss once you return to your regular diet. Doctors state that the most effective rate of weight loss for long term results is only 1 to 2 pounds per week.
• Products that claim you don’t have to diet or exercise: get real. No weight loss is possible if you’re pigging out on brownies while sitting in front of the television. If you want to be slimmer, you must change your lifestyle, eating habits and exercise pattern. Period.
• Products that claim medically proven results: Who are the medical experts that proved it works? What method did they use to prove it? Perhaps most importantly, how long did they follow the subjects in the study? Watch for words like "medically proven" or "leading institutions." The doctors endorsing the product may have a financial stake in the product, or may not even exist.
• Fat Eliminators: medical science has not yet found a pill that dissolves fat. It doesn’t exist. If there were such a thing, the major pharmaceutical companies would be all over it; they are well aware of the financial potential of marketing a drug that cures fatness.
• Visual testimonials: many products offer before and after pictures of people who have experienced the miracle solution. But look more closely at the pictures: is the "after" picture in clearer focus, or better lit? Is the person wearing makeup and stylish clothes in the "after" picture? Is the subject pooching out their stomach in the "before" picture, and standing up straight with a sucked in stomach and better posture in the "after" picture?
• Diets that eliminate certain types of foods completely: remember the food pyramid? The bottom of the pyramid is grains, then fruits and vegetables, then dairy, and finally meats and fats. This is still the best advise. Completely eliminating one or more types of foods will not only leave you feeling deprived and more likely to cheat, it could also be harmful to your health.
• Spot reduction plans: it is physiologically impossible to choose a body part for weight loss and not another area. Your body gets to decide for itself where to lose fat, and there’s nothing you can do to persuade it otherwise.
• Weight loss centers: carefully check out the promises these programs make, including the details of a money back guarantee. Many will offer "free" or discounted services… "plus the cost of the food." What they may not reveal to you is that purchasing the food is a requirement of the program, and that food can be very expensive.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The only known way to achieve permanent, healthful weight loss is through a sensible diet and exercise regimen.

There are legitimate resources you can turn to for advice and encouragement regarding weight loss:

• Your doctor
• Join a gym. Most gyms include free advise from a trainer in the beginning to get you going with a plan. A workout buddy who has similar goals to yours will increase your chances of sticking to the plan.
• Check with your community hospital for group weight loss classes. You will have access to accurate medical advise and information, and the support of your other group members.
• Weight Watchers, Overeaters Anonymous and other support groups can be very helpful. Check the phone book for listings.

If you’re unsure about where to start, contact an EMPAC counselor to discuss your options.