Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it dangerous to be obese?
Obesity is a major risk factor in a number of diseases, from potentially fatal disorders like coronary heart disease and stroke, to disabling and unpleasant conditions like arthritis and diabetes.
Does it matter if you are overweight?
Overweight is not a static condition and while it is perfectly possible to be healthy and a little overweight, for many being overweight is a step on the path to obesity. It is much easier to tackle the problem early when there is only a little weight to lose.
Can dieting make you fat?
No. All diets work provided you eat fewer calories than you burn. If the dieter follows the recommended programme during and after dieting, and does not eat to excess, there will be no weight gain.
Can formula slimming foods help with long term healthy eating habits?
Not everyone finds it easy to calculate or follow a calorie controlled plan from normal food and clinically proven formula slimming foods provide an safe and effective alternative option. Formula slimming foods are the preferred choice for about 25% of slimmers who find them convenient and enjoyable and who value the precision of an exact energy intake without calorie counting or fuss. Many slimmers also find that the use of commercial products helps them stay on their diet and keeps them motivated.
How safe and effective are formula slimming foods?
Clinically proven formula diets and meal replacements from responsible manufacturers are both safe and effective. They have been used by millions of dieters throughout the world and there is no evidence of any harm caused through their use. However, products that claim to help dieters lose large amounts of weight in a very short time should be treated with caution.
What is a normal rate of weight loss?
The rate of weight loss is very personal and depends upon the individual and the amount of weight to be lost.
It is well known that most slimmers lose more weight in the first week of dieting, due to loss of fluid but after that steady weight loss of more than 2lbs per week can be sustained safely depending on the diet and the individual. For example heavily overweight people can lose weight faster initially because they burn up more calories in moving about.
Similarly physically active people lose weight faster than those who are relative inactive because they use more calories in exercise and tend to have a higher resting metabolic rate.
Can rapid weight loss lead to excessive loss of lean tissue?
Provided the diet undertaken is nutritionally satisfactory, there is no damaging loss of lean tissue.
Yo-yo dieting is the repeated loss and regain of weight and is an unfortunate side effect of losing weight without making the necessary adjustment to eating habits afterwards.
To lose weight and keep it off you have to eat less for life (about 150 kcal per day per stone lost) otherwise the weight will return. Yo-yo dieting is often thought to be dangerous to health but a US study established that whilst yo-yo dieting is undoubtedly bad for the dieter's morale, it does no physical damage.
Do commercial slimming foods encourage eating disorders?
No.
Eating disorders are caused by a number of factors, most apparently to do with dysfunctional relationships and psychological problems. Self starvation and eating disorders are a symptom not a cause of these problems.
Is it expensive to eat formula slimming foods?
Like all specially formulated convenience foods, formula slimming foods carry a price premium. However as they are eaten in place of other foods, dieters can budget their expenditure exactly and decide whether the outlay on a specialised product is justified.
What are the disadvantages of using formula slimming foods?
Some people find them monotonous and dull and do not like the flavours. Total diet replacements are not appropriate for long term weight maintenance and do not always fit in with social lifestyles.
The effectiveness of meal replacements, on the other hand, depends considerably on the nutritional content of the main meal which may be subject to variations. Also for some slimmers replacing a meal with a biscuit or drink does not help to re-educate eating habits.
Are there enough controls on slimming products?
Current regulations only apply to foods which have been specially formulated and presented as meal replacements or diet replacements. They do little to counter the problem of fraudulent slimming claims on products not covered by the legislation.
Such products are not backed by clinical and nutritional research and do not have to comply with either the compositional standards or the legal restrictions on advertising and claims.