How are fad diets and dietary supplements an unhealthy way to lose weight?
Weight Loss Myths and Facts
Myth: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss
Fact: Fad diets are not the best way to lose weight and keep it off. Diets often promise to help you lose a lot of weight quickly, or tell you to cut out certain foods to lose weight. Although you may lose weight at first, you may not get all the nutrients that your body needs. Many people quickly get tired of diets and regain the lost weight.
Instead: Losing 1-2 pounds a week by eating better and exercising more is the best way to lose weight and keep it off.
Myth: Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight
Fact: Your body needs a certain amount of calories and nutrients each day in order for it to work properly. Most people who skip meals during the day make up for it by snacking or eating more the next meal. Studies show that people who skip breakfast tend to be heavier than those who eat a nutritious breakfast.
Instead: Eat many small meals throughout the day that include a variety of nutritious, low-fat and low-calorie foods.
Myth: Certain foods, like grapefruit, celery, or cabbage soup can burn fat and help you lose weight
Fact: No foods can burn fat.
Instead: Cut back on the number of calories you eat and be more physically active.
Myth: Natural or herbal weight-loss products are safe and effective
Fact: A product that claims to be "natural" or "herbal" is not necessarily safe. These products are not usually tested scientifically to prove that they are safe or that they work. Some herbal and natural products may be unsafe for people with certain medical conditions.
Myth: High protein/Low Carbohydrate diets are a healthy way to lose weight
Fact: If the diet allows foods high in fat, it can raise blood cholesterol levels, which increases a person's risk of heart disease and certain cancers. High protein/low carbohydrate diets may cause rapid weight loss, but most of it is water weight and lean muscle mass- not fat. You lose water weight because your kidneys try to get rid of the excess waste products of protein and fat, called ketones, that your body makes. This can overwork your kidneys and cause dehydration, headaches, nausea, fatigue and dizziness.
Instead: Follow a reduced-calorie diet that is well balanced between carbohydrates, proteins and fats. This will help you lose weight without hurting your body.
Research a Dietary Supplement Assignment:
Dietary Supplements and Drugs Used For Weight Loss
PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER. THIS WORK WILL BE COLLECTED AND GRADED.
Your assignment today is to research a popular weight loss supplement. In groups of two, you will do the following:
1. Review the article: How diet pills work on the www.howstuffworks.com website. Under search, type in “How diet pills work”. You will need to scroll down and read the over the counter OTC Diet Pills section. Answer the following questions:
A. List some of the common ingredients found in diet pills today.
B. What happens after long-term use of diet pills?
C. List the side effects of the following:
1. Fat blockers:
2. Appetite Suppressants and stimulants:
3. Herbal Diet Pills:
2. Next, review the list of dietary supplements for weight loss below. Some of these supplements claim to be fat blockers, others are appetite suppressants and others are stimulants. Keep in mind that most of these supplements have not been tested on humans, and their claims are only alleged. Since they are considered “foods,” they are not regulated by the FDA. Their manufacturers can market them in any way they see fit. You will choose TWO supplements to research.
Chromium
Ephedra
Chitosan
Conjugated Linoeic Acid
Glucomannan
Green Tea
Hydroxycitric Acid
Psyllium
Pyruvate
St. John’s Wort
Hoodia
Use any of the following three websites ONLY for your research:
www.pdrhealth.com
www.webmd.com/diet/guide/herbal-remedies
http://ods.od.nih.gov/ (go to dietary supplements background info.)
Answer the following questions below for each supplement:
A. What does this supplement claim to do?
B. What are the common side effects?
C. Does this supplement interfere with any other drugs?
D. Is this supplement PROVEN effective? How so?
3. Next, review the list of FDA approved drugs for weight loss below. Choose ONE to research.
Meridia
Xenical/Alli
Adipex-P
Tenuate
Use www.rxlist.com or www.pdrhealth.com to answer the following questions:
A. What does this drug do?
B. What are the common health risks and side effects?
C. How effective is the drug?
D. Are there any food or drug interactions?
4. Next, research a popular weight loss product and answer the questions that follow. Use any website you find for your information.
Dexatrim
Hydroxycut
TrimSpa
Xenadrine
Apidexin
Fenphedra
A. How does this weight loss pill claim to work?
B. What are the active ingredients in the pill?
*Can you find the side effects of these ingredients from this website?
C. What scientific research has been offered to support these claims? Note: "Clinical Studies" do not count as scientific evidence.
D. What are the health risks and side effects of taking this pill (according to the website)?
Now that you have done extensive research on dietary supplements, answer the last two questions:
5. What have you learned about the safety and/or effectiveness of fad diets and diet pills?
6. What information will you share with others?