Diet Gimmicks

Are you one of the estimated 60 million North Americans who will go on a diet this year? If so, you might be tempted by advertisements for products promising easy, quick ways to lose weight. You should know that when it comes to losing weight, gimmicks usually don’t deliver on their promises.

While some dieters succeed in taking off weight, perhaps as few as five percent manage to take it off and keep it off in the long run. Most experts agree that the best way to take weight off and keep it off is to eat fewer calories and burn more energy by increasing physical activity. Experts suggest aiming for a goal of about 1 lb/week. This usually means cutting about 500 calories from your diet by eating healthy, low-fat foods (following Canada’s Food Guide is a good bet) and/or participating in regular, physical activity.

Before you spend good money on products or programs that promise fast or easy weight loss , weigh the claims and consider these tips:

“Lose 30 lbs in 30 days” - as a rule, the faster you lose weight, the more likely you are to gain it back. Also, fast weight loss could harm your health.

“Lose weight while you sleep” - claims for diet products and programs that promise weight loss without effort are phony.

“Lose weight and keep it off for good” - be suspicious about products promising long term or permanent weight loss. To lose weight and keep it off you have to change how you eat and how much you exercise.

“John Doe lost 84 lbs in six weeks” - don’t be misled by someone else’s weight loss claims. Even if the claims are true, someone else’s success may have little relation to your own chances of success.

“Scientific breakthrough . . . medical miracle” - there are no miracle cures or weight loss products. To lose weight you have to reduce your caloric intake and increase your energy expenditure. Be skeptical about exaggerated claims.

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