Handy Weight Loss Information: Counting The Ways
If you’re looking for weight loss information, there’s no shortage of ‘experts’ around to help. But it’s usually only weight off the wallet they take, not off the body. So how do you know who to believe?
Well, a recent publication which backed up Government guidelines on this, have listed the ways – and how successful each is. Here’s a summary:
1. Herbal products
These are bought ‘over-the-counter’ and include a wide range of products ranging from seaweed to horseradish. There’s no evidence that any work without a diet and exercise program though. So save your money.
2. Alternative treatments
Weight loss claims are made for everything from acupuncture to hypnosis to body wrapping. But again, there’s no real proof that any of these work. Hypnosis may have some slight impact on changing food intake in someone who is able to be hypnotised, but the effect is hardly worth it.
3. Do–It–Yourself (DIY) diet
It’s difficult to gauge this one because something obviously worked for many people (otherwise we would all be fat). However, while any diet will work over the short term (by decreasing food intake) very few can be sustained over the long term. It’s better to make a lifetime commitment to eating right than waste time and effort on special diets.
4. Commercial diet-based weight loss programs
There are two or three big ones of these depending on the country, all with sound marketing of weight loss information– Weight Watchers being the biggest. They work best as a support group (and hence usually better for women) – but be prepared to continue paying. The success rate is not clear because data are unpublished, but WW (one of the few that do publish results) claim a success rate of around 20% over 1 year. (Men seem to do much better according to published data on GutBusters – now Professor Trims)
5. Exercise based programs
These include fitness centres and personal trainers as well as do it yourself ways of getting fit. The first thing to say about exercise is that it doesn’t strip the weight off as quickly as dieting. The second is that it does it better over the long term – so it should be a part of any program.
6. Counselling
Getting effective weight loss information can now be as simple as a visit to any good doctor, dietitian, psychologist or exercise physiologist (or now a combination of three through your GP). Look for the ones who specialise in weight control and see this person only as helping you – not doing it for you.
7. Pre-packaged meals
These are whole meals packaged and frozen for re-heating. In general, they provide low calorie, healthy meals and (provided you don’t add a profito roll and ice cream dessert) can help reduce food intake.
8. Meal Replacements
These can be used once or twice a day (rarely three times) instead of meals. Hence they only work if they delay hunger, and while there have been some dodgy versions around for years, there are now some very effective ones. They can be used for up to three meals a day. But experienced guidance is recommended. The recognition of the value of these by obesity groups has now also meant a proliferation of products on the market. Look for those with good professional support.
9. Medication
There are a couple of drugs available from the doctor that can help add to the benefits of a lifestyle program. You’ll need an experienced doctor to advise you on what is best. Also, don’t expect these to work without a change in lifestyle.
10. Surgery
It used to be the last resort, but modern surgical techniques (particularly laproscopic banding) have now made it one of the most effective weight loss techniques available – provided it is followed up, again with the proper lifestyle change and with a team of experts including a psychologist, dietitian and exercise specialist.
11. Lifestyle modification
If we can provide you with one piece of weight loss information that has more power than anything else for the general population, no matter what you do it comes down to this. Nothing will work without some form of lifestyle change, so why not do it all in one go. Programs like Professor Trim’s for Men can help you do this.
Your Diet and Activity Behaviours
To get a true indication if it’s your consumptions of carbs, fat, too little exercise or a combination of all three that might be contributing to your current or potential weight problem try out the Diet, Activity, Behaviour Questionnaire.
Body Fat Tools
Checking your body fat percentage is more important than measuring your weight on scales alone. To get a free risk factor profile of your current levels and help with setting some realistic goals, go to the Lifestyle Medicine Body Fat And Fat Loss tool.
Quick start to weight loss
If your trying to lose weight for a lifetime its essential you get off on the right foot. The Lifestyle Medicine Quick Start to Weight Loss is a free, cutting edge, online program that will help you towards lifelong change.
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