| Obesity affects about one in four adult
Americans, and during any one year, over half of Americans go on a
weight-loss diet or are trying to maintain their weight. For many
people who try to lose weight, it is difficult to lose more than a
few pounds, a few succeed in remaining at the reduced weight. The
difficulty in losing weight and keeping it off leads many people to
turn to a professional or commercial weight-loss program for help.
These programs are quite popular and are widely advertised in newspapers
and on television.
What is the evidence that any of
these programs is worthwhile, that they will help you lose weight
and keep it off, and that they will do it safely?
Almost any of the commercial weight-loss programs can work, but
only if they motivate you sufficiently to decrease the amount of
calories you eat or increase the amount of calories you burn each
day (or both).
What elements of a weight-loss program
should an intelligent consumer look for in judging its potential
for safe and successful weight loss?
A responsible and safe weight-loss program should be able to document
for you the five following features:
1) The diet should be safe. It should include all of the Recommended
Daily Allowances (RDAs) for vitamins, minerals, and protein. The
weight-loss diet should be low in calories (energy) only, not in
essential foodstuffs.
2) The weight-loss program should be directed towards a slow, steady
weight loss unless your doctor feels your health condition would
benefit from more rapid weight loss. Expect to lose only about a
pound a week after the first week or two. With many calorie-restricted
diets there is an initial rapid weight loss during the first 1 to
2 weeks, but this loss is largely fluid. The initial rapid loss
of fluid also is regained rapidly when you return to a normal-calorie
diet. Thus, a reasonable goal of weight loss must be expected.
3) If you plan to lose more than 15 to 20 pounds, have any health
problems, or take medication on a regular basis, you should be evaluated
by your doctor before beginning your weight-loss program. A doctor
can assess your general health and medical conditions that might
be affected by dieting and weight loss. Also, a physician should
be able to advise you on the need for weight loss, the appropriateness
of the weight-loss program, and a sensible goal of weight loss for
you. If you plan to use a very-low-calorie diet (a special liquid
formula diet that replaces all food intake for 1 to 4 months), you
definitely should be examined and monitored by a doctor.
4) Your program should include plans for weight maintenance after
the weight loss phase is over. It is of little benefit to lose a
large amount of weight only to regain it. Weight maintenance is
the most difficult part of controlling weight and is not consistently
implemented in weight-loss programs. The program you select should
include help in permanently changing your dietary habits and level
of physical activity, to alter a lifestyle that may have contributed
to weight gain in the past. Your program should provide behavior
modification help, including education in healthy eating habits
and long-term plans to deal with weight problems. One of the most
important factors in maintaining weight loss appears to be increasing
daily physical activity, often by sensible increases in daily activity,
as well as incorporating an individually tailored exercise program.
5) A commercial weight-loss program should provide a detailed statement
of fees and costs of additional items such as dietary supplements.
Obesity is a chronic condition. Too often it is viewed as a temporary
problem that can be treated for a few months with a strenuous diet.
However, as most overweight people know, weight control must be
considered a life-long effort. To be safe and effective, any weight-loss
program must address the long-term approach or else the program
is largely a waste of money and effort.
Endnote: This statement was developed with the advice of the National
Task Force on Prevention and Treatment of Obesity, a sub-committee
of the National Digestive Diseases Advisory Board.
This material is excerpted from the National Institute of Diabetes
& Digestive & Kidney Diseases' information titled, 'Choosing
a Safe and Successful Weight-Loss Program,' (NIH Publication No.
94-3700, December 1993). Prepared for Healthtouch -- April 1996.
The Weight-Control Information Network (WIN) is a service of the
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health, under the U.S.
Public Health Service. Authorized by Congress (Public Law 103-43),
WIN assembles and disseminates to health professionals and the public
information on weight control, obesity, and nutritional disorders.
WIN responds to requests for information; develops, reviews, and
distributes publications; and develops communications strategies
to encourage individuals to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Publications produced by WIN are reviewed carefully for scientific
accuracy, content, and readability. Materials produced by other
sources are also reviewed for scientific accuracy and are distributed,
along with WIN publications, to answer requests.
For more information, write to:
Weight Control Information Network
1 Win Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3665 Phone: 301-570-2177, 1-800-946-8098
FAX: 301-570-2186
http://www.healthtouch.com
All pages Copyright © 1996 by Medical Strategies, Inc. |
