Facts About Slimming Products and Programs

At www.PT.com.sg, we cannot stress enough the importance of a proper exercise and nutritional plan when it comes to slimming effectively. We frown when we see companies try to sell supplements or services that claim to induce slimming but are actually unsupported by science and may even be harmful. Some side effects of these products may include dehydration and inadequate absorption of healthy fatty acids which are essential for health. Death is uncommon but has happened before (think Slim10).

We repeat again - QUICK FIXES DO NOT WORK! You have to sacrifice to get results, be it giving up your favorite food or making time to work out at the gym. For those who fallen victim to these slimming methods, our advice is - 'Never Give Up!'
To add on to our 'Weight Loss Scams In Singapore' article, now we bring you another piece of very informative article by the Federal Trade Commission & Food and Drug Administration, USA. This is a must read if you are embarking on a journey to get a slimmer you.

Presented as a Public Service by:
Federal Trade Commission
Food and Drug Administration
National Association of Attorneys General
The Slimming Industry

Looking for a quick and easy way to slimming? You're not alone. An estimated 50 million Americans will go on slimming diets this year. And while some will succeed in taking the weight off, very few--perhaps 5 percent--will manage to keep all of it off in the long run.

 
One reason for the low success rate is that many people look for quick and easy solutions to their weight problems. They find it hard to believe in this age of scientific innovations and medical miracles that an effortless slimming method doesn't exist.

So they succumb to quick-fix slimming claims like "Eat All You Want and Still Get Slim!" or "Melt Fat Away While You Sleep!" And they invest their hopes (and their money) in all manner of slimming pills, potions, gadgets, and slimming programs that hold the promise of a slimmer, happier future.
The slimming business is a booming industry. Americans spend an estimated $30 billion a year on all types of slimming programs and products, including diet foods and drinks. Trying to sort out all of the competing claims--often misleading, unproven, or just plain false--can be confusing and costly.

This brochure is designed to give you the facts behind the claims, to help you avoid the outright scams, and to encourage you to consider thoroughly the costs and consequences of the slimming decisions you make.

The Facts About Slimming
Being obese can have serious health consequences. These include an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, gallstones, and some forms of cancer. Losing weight can help reduce these risks. Here are some general points to keep in mind:

Any claims that you can get slim effortlessly are false. The only proven way to get slim is either to reduce the number of calories you eat or to increase the number of calories you burn off through exercise. Most experts recommend a combination of both.

Very low-calorie diets are not without risk and should be pursued only under medical supervision. Unsupervised very low-calorie diets can deprive you of important nutrients and are potentially dangerous.

Fad diets rarely have any permanent effect. Sudden and radical changes in your eating patterns are difficult to sustain over time. In addition, so-called "crash" diets often send dieters into a cycle of quick slimming, followed by a "rebound" weight gain once normal eating resumes, and even more difficulty reducing when the next diet is attempted.

To slim down and keep weight off requires long-term changes in daily eating and exercise habits. Many experts recommend a goal of losing about a pound a week. A modest reduction of 500 calories per day will achieve this goal, since a total reduction of 3,500 calories is required to lose a pound of fat. An important way to lower your calorie intake is to learn and practice healthy eating habits.

In Search of the "Magic Bullet"

Some dieters peg their hopes on pills and capsules that promise to "burn," "block," "flush," or otherwise eliminate fat from the system. But science has yet to come up with a low-risk "magic bullet" for slimming. Some pills may help control the appetite, but they can have serious side effects. (Amphetamines, for instance, are highly addictive and can have an adverse impact on the heart and central nervous system.) Other pills are utterly worthless.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a number of state Attorney General have successfully brought cases against marketers of pills claiming to absorb or burn fat. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned 111 ingredients once found in over-the-counter diet products. None of these substances, which include alcohol, caffeine, dextrose, and guar gum, have proved effective in slimming or appetite suppression.

Beware of the following products that are touted as slimming wonders:

Slimming patches, which are worn on the skin, have not been proven to be safe or effective. The FDA has seized millions of these products from manufacturers and promoters.
"Fat blockers" purport to physically absorb fat and mechanically interfere with the fat a person eats.
"Starch blockers" promise to block or impede starch digestion. Not only is the claim unproven, but users have complained of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pains.

"Magnet" slimming pills allegedly "flush fat out of the body." The FTC has brought legal action against several marketers of these pills.

Glucomannan is advertised as the "Slimming Secret That's Been in the Orient for Over 500 Years." There is little evidence supporting this plant root's effectiveness as a slimming product.
Some bulk producers or fillers, such as fiber-based products, may absorb liquid and swell in the stomach, thereby reducing hunger. Some fillers, such as guar gum, can even prove harmful, causing obstructions in the intestines, stomach, or esophagus. The FDA has taken legal action against several promoters containing guar gum.
Spirulina, a species of blue-green algae, has not been proven effective for slimming.

Phony Devices and Gadgets

Phony weight-loss devices range from those that are simply ineffective to those that are truly dangerous to your health. At minimum, they are a waste of your hard-earned money. Some of the fraudulent gadgets that have been marketed to hopeful dieters over the years include:

Electrical muscle stimulators have legitimate use in physical therapy treatment. But the FDA has taken a number of them off the market because they were promoted for slimming and body toning. When used incorrectly, muscle stimulators can be dangerous, causing electrical shocks and burns.
"Appetite suppressing eyeglasses" are common eyeglasses with colored lenses that claim to project an image to the retina which dampens the desire to eat. There is no evidence these work.
"Magic slimming earrings" and devices custom-fitted to the purchaser's ear that purport to stimulate acupuncture points controlling hunger have not been proven effective.

Slimming Diet Programs

Approximately 8 million Americans a year enroll in some kind of structured slimming diet program involving liquid diets, special diet regimens, or medical or other supervision. In 1991, about 8,500 commercial slimming centers were in operation across the country, many of them owned by a half-dozen or so well-known national companies.

Before you join such a slimming program, you should know that according to published studies relatively few participants succeed in keeping off weight long-term. Recently, the FTC brought action against several companies challenging slimming and weight-maintenance claims. Unfortunately, some other companies continue to make overblown claims.

The FTC stopped one company from claiming its diet program caused rapid slimming through the use of tablets that would "burn fat" and a protein drink mix that would adjust metabolism. The FTC also took action against three major programs using doctor-supervised, very low-calorie liquid diets, and they agreed to stop making claims unless they could back them up with hard data.
Before you sign up with a diet program, you might ask these questions:

What are the health risks?

What data can you show me that proves your slimming program actually works?

Do customers keep off the weight after they leave the diet program?

What are the costs for membership, weekly fees, food, slimming supplements, maintenance, and counseling? What's the payment schedule? Are any costs covered under health insurance? Do you give refunds if I drop out?

Do you have a maintenance program? Is it part of the package or does it cost extra?

What kind of slimming professional supervision is provided? What are the credentials of these professionals?

What are the slimming program's requirements? Are there special menus or foods, counseling visits, or exercise plans?

Clues to Fraud
It is important for consumers to be wary of claims that sound too good to be true. When it comes to slimming schemes, consumers should be particularly skeptical of claims containing words and phrases like:

easy
effortless
guaranteed
miraculous
magical
breakthrough
new discovery
mysterious
exotic
secret
exclusive
ancient

Sensible Weight Maintenance Tips
Slimming may not be effortless, but it doesn't have to be complicated. To achieve long-term results, it's best to avoid quick-fix slimming schemes and complex regimens. Focus instead on making modest changes to your life's daily routine. A balanced, healthy diet and sensible, regular exercise are the keys to maintaining your slim figure. Although nutrition science is constantly evolving, here are some generally-accepted guidelines for slimming:

Consult with your doctor, a dietician, or other qualified health professional to determine your ideal healthy body weight.

Eat smaller portions and choose from a variety of foods.

Load up on foods naturally high in fiber: Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

Limit portions of foods high in fat: dairy products like cheese, butter, and whole milk; red meat; cakes and pastries.

Exercise at least three times a week. 
 

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