Veggie Blog

It is natural to want results quickly, and the weight-loss market knows it. Shelves and ads are filled with products that promise a slimmer body in days with little effort. Here is why fast fixes rarely last, and how you can tell which claims to ignore.

Why does fast weight loss often come back?

Crash diets and very strict low-carbohydrate or low-calorie plans can cause a quick drop on the scale in the first week or two, but much of it is water, not fat. The water returns as soon as you eat normally again. People also cannot stay on such strict plans forever, so they go back to old eating habits and regain the weight. This is why slower, steadier changes tend to last longer. For more on this pattern, see our post on five warning signs of a fad diet.

How fast is safe?

The CDC says that people who lose weight gradually, about one to two pounds a week, are more likely to keep it off. The NIDDK adds that losing weight very quickly increases the chance of forming gallstones, and that the usual first goal is 5 to 10 percent of your starting weight in six months. Anyone who has a medical condition or wants to lose a lot of weight should talk to their doctor about a plan. If you want quicker progress that is still safe, our article on six tips for faster, safer progress explains how.

Do slimming soaps work?

Some soaps and creams claim to melt body fat through the skin, often with herbs or seaweed in the ingredients. I could not find any research that shows these products reduce body fat. They may cleanse or soften your skin, and that is fine, but fat does not wash away in the shower. The Federal Trade Commission is blunter: in its 2014 “Gut Check” guide for media it says that weight loss is an internal metabolic process, and that nothing you wear or apply to the skin can cause substantial weight loss.

What about magnetic weight-loss earrings?

Magnetic earrings and similar devices claim to curb hunger and speed up metabolism by balancing energy in the body. As with the soaps, I found no study in a medical journal that shows they work, and the FTC’s “Gut Check” guide names earrings, patches, creams, wraps and body belts among the products whose weight-loss claims are false. Wearing one is unlikely to hurt you, but it is probably not a wise way to spend your money. Fashion jewelry is fine as jewelry.

How can you spot a weight-loss scam?

Be careful about promises that sound too good. The NIDDK advises staying away from programs that promise to help you lose weight without diet or exercise, to let you eat as much as you want of your favorite foods, to take off 30 pounds in 30 days, or to lose weight in a specific part of your body. The Federal Trade Commission lists seven claims that experts say cannot be true, including that a product causes weight loss without diet or exercise, blocks the absorption of fat or calories, causes permanent weight loss after you stop using it, or works for every user. Before-and-after photos and personal endorsements can be staged, so treat them with caution. See our post on diet pills for more.

The reliable route is not exciting: smaller portions, more vegetables and fiber, regular exercise and enough sleep, done for months, not days. If you want a plan to follow, start with healthy weight loss in eight habits.