Are slimming fads a big fat lie?

Our fast-paced world demands instant remedies for every problem, including excess body weight. To cater for this, there are many products and procedures that promise to zap fat, and allow us to fit in our old jeans in a flash, but do they really work? LUCY MARONCHA explores some of these options

Dealing with excess body weight can be a challenge, especially when the extra kilos thwart every bout of exercise. Long and rigorous diet and workout regiments are unappealing in today’s ‘quick fix’ world; so many people are looking for ‘simpler’ options. And their range of choices is constantly growing.

There are herbs, powders, pills, creams and even wraps that promise to eliminate unwanted bulges. As the society becomes more sedentary, our waists are growing wider, and the number of clients seeking these treatments is getting higher.

Whether the so-called solutions work or not, is the topic of much discussion. What is clear is that the slimming industry is a gold mine for many entrepreneurs, and a minefield for wannabe weight losers.

Here are some of the products on offer:

Slimming supplements/pills

Weight loss supplements usually come in the form of pills and powders, which are taken with water, in food or as shakes, or by themselves. There are even some that are specifically marketed for men, to help them lose belly fat.

Some supplements claim to contain dietary fibre that expands in the stomach, creating a feeling of satiety. Thus, less food is eaten, meaning that fewer calories are consumed and weight is lost. Others are said to bind fat in the intestines, preventing fat absorption.

Some of these products claim to be certified by the Kenya Bureau of Standards. The cost ranges from Sh3,000 for a two-month dose to Sh12,000 for nine days.

Bela Bokongo, 28, says she had given up hope of ever losing weight before she came across a Chinese-manufactured ‘supplement’.

“I’d tried controlling my diet and going to the gym, but things were just getting worse. I looked like I was nine months pregnant,” Bela says.

However, after taking the pills, she claims to have lost a whopping 22 kilos in only three months. She swears by this product and has even become a distributor.

Things are different for Florence, who laments that a weight-loss supplement that she used had consequences that have shattered her already fragile self-esteem.

“My skin started sagging and there is an ugly blanket of skin on my tummy. The supplement supplier didn’t warn me about this, and has dismissed it as a small side effect,” she says.

Florence might have lost the weight, but she has a new problem. She advises those trying to shed kilos to seek nutritional advise instead of buying supplements whose background they hardly understand.

Her sentiments are echoed by endocrinologist Paul Ngugi, who warns that some weight-loss supplements could contain harmful substances.

“It is important to research broadly on the ingredients before starting to take these substances. Some could immensely affect your health,” Dr Ngugi cautions. “Blocking the absorption of fats could harm your health by preventing the absorption of essential nutrients in the body.”

Much as the listed ingredients are usually of a herbal nature, including mulberry leaves, acai berry and ginseng, as well as orange, green tea and cassia extracts, the doctor points out that any substance made from herbs, whether used as a medicine or supplement, is bound to have side effects.

In addition, many pills and supplements are said to contain other ingredients, whose combined action, or reaction with other drugs, is unknown. New York-based ConsumerLab tested 11 weight-loss dietary supplements and found that only six contained the ingredients in the strength advertised on their labels. Some contained contaminants such as lead.

Then there is the risk of having an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients. For example, chitosan, a popular ingredient in weight loss products, is made from the shells of shellfish, so people allergic to shellfish should be cautious.

Some of the side-effects associated with these products include:

•       High blood pressure

•       Liver problems

•       Heart problems

•       Headaches

•       Nausea

•       Breathing problems

•       Loose skin caused by a sudden diminish of body fat

•       Increased heart rate

•       Addiction

•       Stomach pain

Body wraps

Some users say body wraps are very pleasant while in others, one has to endure “a little pain.”

This service is mostly found in spas, and is said to be very effective in toning and sculpting the body.

Body wraps usually start with a body scrub followed by a rinse then masks made of algae, seaweed, mud, clay, lotions or creams. The body is then wrapped in strips of cloth. After a while, the strips are removed, the mask rinsed off and a lotion applied. Often, the procedure is carried out in a hot room to encourage more sweating.

The cost of this treatment starts at about Sh3,500 per hour. After taking the wrap off, there is a feeling of ‘tightness’, but normally, this does not last long. This is because the weight you lose is water from your body. A wrap is, therefore, good for the day when you are trying to fit into a special outfit, say on your wedding day, but is not a permanent weight loss solution.

Side effects include:

•       Dehydration, because of the excessive sweating.

•       Allergic reactions to the products used.

•       The warm and restricting nature of the procedure can make circulatory problems worse.

•       Breathing problems can occur if the bandages are too tight.

Creams and lotions

Slimming creams are said to melt fat and contour the silhouette, giving the body a more toned look. They are popular because their use requires no special skills, they are readily available, and are quite cheap. A tube can be bought for a few hundred shillings.

The dream of losing weight while watching TV and eating crisps on the couch, so long as you remember to apply the cream, reels in many users. But it is just a dream, it seems.

Many experts agree that using these creams is no more effective than an ordinary massage. Various makers of these creams have been fined millions of shillings in Canada, the USA and elsewhere after being found guilty of false or misleading advertising.

Doctors say using these creams alone will not help in weight loss. And the makers of the creams also advise the use of their products alongside healthy diet and exercise. But that does not include fad diets.

Crash diets

These are diets characterised by extreme restriction of calorie intake in a bid to lose weight fast. Examples of these are the cabbage soup diet, the blood type diet and the juice-only diet.

When one suddenly starts eating very little, and often only choosing from a small range of foods, the body’s energy requirements are not met, so glycogen stores are broken down to provide energy. When glycogen is depleted, the proteins available in the body are used. Protein holds a lot of water, so the using up of proteins goes hand-in-hand with fluid loss, hence weight loss.

Due to their highly restrictive nature, these diets can only be sustained for a short time. When one goes back to eating normally, the weight, and perhaps even more, is regained, leading to the urge to crash diet again, and a vicious cycle of yo-yo dieting is formed.

The side effects include malnutrition, dehydration, fatigue, weak bones and loss of muscle mass, as well as nausea and diarrhoea.

The best way to lose weight, Dr Ngugi asserts, is through proper diet and exercise.

“Losing weight does not have to be an expensive exercise. For instance, taking a walk or jogging every evening is free of charge,” he says.

He advises anyone who feels that their weight is a concern to seek medical attention, and not rush to buy quick-fix remedies.