2016 Saw Fake News in the World of Weight Loss, Too

Transcription

1 2016 Saw Fake News in the World of Weight Loss, Too 2016 introduced the term fake news into everyone s awareness in the world of politics, but the past year also saw plenty of fake news when it comes to weight loss. Some involved simple false claims, while others took scientific truths and misconstrued the findings. From the MUSC Weight Management Center, here are the facts behind 5 fake news weight loss headlines from 2016: 1. A study of contestants on The Biggest Loser shows diets don t work This one started out as a small, but sound scientific study in a legitimate journal. In a study of 14 former Biggest Loser participants six years after their competition, researchers found that nearly all had regained at least some of the weight.

2 As the story grew, many reports misrepresented the study as proof that losing weight is hopeless. But these reports ignored some important facts. While it s true that most of the contestants had regained some of their lost weight, on average most participants were still nearly 40 pounds lighter than when they started. One oft-cited finding was that contestants metabolic rates were still as low six years later as they had been at the end of the competition. But in fact, those who maintained a substantial amount of their weight loss actually had a greater drop in metabolic rate! How did they do it? My guess is almost daily exercise, regular weigh-ins and watching what they ate, says Tonya F. Turner, associate director for clinical services at MUSC Weight Management Center. 2. Detox to cleanse your body and lose weight fast! Detox and elimination diets and products like detox teas are everywhere, urging people to remove certain foods from their diet as a way to remove toxins from the body. The problem is two-fold: The prescribed eating plan is unhealthy, and our bodies naturally remove actual toxins from our system without extra help. And, Turner notes, a lot of gut bacteria are important and beneficial for maintaining overall health and a healthy weight. Elimination and detox diets may promote limited results and temporary weight loss, however, many are aimed at eliminating whole food groups or focused on very lowcalorie diets that may be difficult to sustain, Turner says. The best plan is to eat plenty of fruits, veggies, high-fiber foods and focus on a balance.

3 3. Go gluten-free for weight loss Between 2009 and 2014, the percentage of U.S. adults following a gluten-free diet tripled, yet the rate of celiac disease (the one reason a person should go gluten-free) remained stable. Gluten-free diets are promoted as a way to cure all sorts of conditions and often as a method of weight loss. Recently, gluten has gotten a reputation for being an unhealthy food product, but that s not exactly true. Giving up gluten if you don t have celiac disease actually means you re missing out on some healthy foods like whole grains. Plus, foods marketed as glutenfree may be high in calories, saturated fat and cholesterol. 4. Lose inches instantly with an amazing body wrap! Online ads and social networks are filled with people professing the benefits of body wraps as a way to melt fat from certain areas of the body. But can your actually spot-reduce fat? Spot reduction, either through the use of body wraps or a special type of exercise equipment, is not supported by the exercise science research, says Dr. David Sword, exercise physiologist at the MUSC Weight Management Center. However, a reduced caloric intake combined with an increase in

4 physical activity has been shown to result in meaningful weight loss and improved health. 5. Pills, potions and gimmicks Oftentimes described as a magic weight loss cure, many products have been promoted on shows such as Dr. Oz, including raspberry ketones, red clover tea and the ever-popular garcinia cambogia. The latter comes from a tropical fruit and is frequently pitched as a weight-loss supplement. Studies show that garcinia cambogia is not a miracle supplement. In fact, one study found that supplements users only lost 2 more pounds than non-users. When it comes to losing weight, people have always been drawn to the promise of quick fixes, but nothing can replace a healthy diet and exercise routine. Excess weight is serious medical issue that deserves serious attention by trained healthcare professionals. As we move into 2017, resolve to focus on your health by enrolling in a high-quality weight loss program like the ones offered by the MUSC Weight Management Center, which was named one of the Top 15 weight control programs in the US by Health magazine. MUSC is an academic medical center, so patients benefit from the most current and safe weight management programs, medicines and advances through research. Their team of psychologists, dietitians, physicians and exercise physiologists all come together to help you reduce your weight and improve your quality of life. The MUSC Weight Management Center offers a full range of programs for different needs, but all are focused on helping you make long-term lifestyle changes. Visit MUSCHealth.org/Weight for a virtual tour or call (843) for more information.

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