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Take Fat-Away and lose 10 pounds in one week! |
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Eat only fruit, and you’ll feel great! |
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Buy this herbal supplement, and you’ll never have to exercise again! |
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For only three easy payments of $39.99, you can blast belly fat with the Abdominator! |
Advertisements like these are all over the Internet, TV, and magazines. Some of these weight-loss programs and products may be safe and effective. But many others are not. How can you tell the difference? Learn the characteristics of reliable and unreliable weight-loss plans below.
| Reliable Weight-Loss Plans | Unsafe or Ineffective Weight-Loss Plans |
| encourage gradual weight loss (0.5 – 2 lbs per week) | promise unrealistic, “instant” weight loss |
| encourage consulting a healthcare provider before starting |
don’t mention getting physician’s input before starting |
| do not require special supplements or exercise equipment |
require special or costly supplements or exercise equipment |
| include foods from each food group |
exclude one or more food groups |
| reduce caloric intake to no less than 1,000 calories per day |
reduce caloric intake below 1,000 calories per day OR suggest no changes to diet |
| recommend an exercise plan that includes at least 30 minutes of exercise per day |
do not recommend exercise OR require exercise that is unsafe because of its intensity or duration |
| include tips on eating in social situations |
provide no support for meeting psychological or social needs while making lifestyle changes |
| include techniques to monitor progress |
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| provide strategies for coping with setbacks |
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| include foods that friends and family eat |
Question
In general, what separates good weight-loss plans from bad or dangerous ones?
Safe and effective weight loss plans do not advise extreme measures of any type, and they are comprehensive in the advice and support they provide.
