|
Author: Tracie Johanson Article source: http://www.ezilon.com/. Used with author's permission.
Caveat emptor is Latin for "let the buyer beware". Nowhere is this phrase more applicable than in the weight loss industry of today.
It seems that every time we turn around we are blasted and bombarded with the latest, greatest, new and improved treatment for obesity. From miracle pills to the latest fad diet, the gimmicks just keep coming. The sad truth is that few of these products work. Even fewer will result in real, permanent and lasting fat loss. A very few of the weight loss gimmicks on the market today are not only a consumer rip-off, but they are also quite dangerous.....even deadly. Caveat emptor indeed!
-> A PRIME SUSPECT?
As an example, consider the prescription diet drug Meridia. Does it help you lose weight? For some people, the answer is yes. For others, the answer is no. Can it kill you? The answer to this question seems to be a nervous 'maybe'. "The consumer group Public Citizen had petitioned the Food and Drug Administration for a ban, citing Meridia users who died of heart problems as young as their 20s and 30s. Even before Meridia was approved for sale, the FDA knew it could increase users' blood pressure, the group contended." (Source: www.cnn.com)
Recently the FDA again refused to ban Meridia, even though whistleblower David Graham (an FDA drug safety officer) testified to Congress last fall that his agency was allowing five unsafe medicines to stay on the market, including Meridia.
-> ANOTHER PRIME SUSPECT?
Ephedra was banned in the United States last year, in part due to numerous deaths attributed to this popular weight loss supplement. On April 14, a federal Judge in Utah reversed the short-lived ban on ephedra. Within minutes, spammers were filling our email boxes with messages to BUY BUY BUY before ephedra was banned again.
One of these spammers, on their website, states that "Finally, the forbidden fat-burning herb banned for being 'too effective' - Ephedra - is available to the public again". We're not going to quote the source on this one because we don't want to give this guy any free publicity.
Yes, ephedra will help some people lose weight. Yes, ephedra is safe for some people in low doses. But there is that little nagging fact that people have DIED and that their deaths have been attributed to ephedra use.....
-> MORE EXAMPLES
"The Advertising Standards Authority in Great Britian has ordered L'Oreal to pull ads for an anti-cellulite cream. The board found that claims as to the effects and timeliness of the skin treatment were misleading and could not be backed up by any research. The ads featured Claudia Schiffer and L'Oreal has agreed to make changes to the advertisements." (Source: www.adjab.com)
For whatever reason, some people have decided that anabolic steroids are the best way to lose weight. Despite the well-documented and serious side-effects of steroid use, the lure of easy weight loss has caused many to throw caution to the wind. Perhaps the most concerning trend is steroid use among our teenage population: "Teens also listed steroids, growth hormone, amino acids and other potentially unhealthful products among those they'd tried in the previous year." (Source: www.cnn.com)
-> THE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE
Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) is indeed the rule when it comes to many weight loss gimmicks. However, there is one weight loss method that has never been banned, has never led to an investigation, and has never been been listed on a 'whistleblower' fraud report: EXERCISE.
Exercise is the only path to health and fitness that virtually every doctor in the world agrees upon. Exercise is safe, effective, and brings many more benefits to our lives than diets or drugs ever will. Exercise is fun, invigorating, motivating and the single most powerful way to improve our life and well-being!
Instead of looking for another short-cut to weight loss success, choose the proven method that gets results. Choose exercise.
* Copyright 2005 Pick Up The Pace. Permission is not required for the distribution of Pick Up The Pace articles as long as they are used in their entirety, are properly credited to Pick Up The Pace, and are accompanied by our website link: www.letspickupthepace.com.
* The information in this article and on this site is for general reference purposes only and not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information in this article or on www.letspickupthepace.com should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit http://www.letspickupthepace.com for more information.
Tips for Hassle Free Travel Insurance
Tips to ensure your travel insurance policy lives up to its promises and pays out should you need to claim.
Sources for Targeted Web Site Traffic
Qualified traffic is the lifeblood of any web site today, especially for ecommerce sites that are selling goods or services online. But, many media buyers and/o...
Perfectionism - The Dangerous Trap!
How to overcome perfectionism
Solving the Late Paying Customer Blues
Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who don't pay their bills as agreed. Late paying customers can create a serious threat to the survival o...
Ask Me No Questions, Ill Tell You No Lies
Despite the President's encouraging words, the job market is still in sorry shape. There are more job seekers than job openings, so do NOT make things harder on...
Entrepreneurship Story; Over Regulation in Franchising Final Chapter
Sally and Jim have launched their automotive franchise business and are now selling franchises; problems arise as lawyers and over regulation threaten to ruin t...
9 Secrets to Kick Your Internet Marketing Efforts into Overdrive
Do you want to take your Internet marketing campaign to the next level? Read my 9 secrets and Internet Marketing Success will surely follow.
Why Link Exchanges are Dead-and What the New Move in Free Traffic Is
If you're still trying to find link exchange partners, you need to read this article.
Kill The Messenger (Service)
You are familiar with the software applications that you run on your computer, but you may not be familiar with the dozens of programs running in the background...
12 Tips and Reminders for Team Members To Enjoy Their Team Experiences More
Do you realize how much productivity your teams never realize? This article will help individuals understand their strengths and roles better, become both more ...
If You Have Any Antique Clocks...Keep Them. They May Be Valuable Keepsakes
Been shopping for antique clocks lately? It's strange that when something is new they are fascinating and cutting edge. Then they become a common place. After a...
Technology and Techniques Used in Industrial Espionage
Industrial Espionage. These methodologies are being used on a daily basis by competitors maybe even against you. I knew a Private Investigator who used to bre...
Are You Ready for a Home Mortgage Loan?
Buying a Home and committing to a Mortgage can be very scary!
A home mortgage loan is the largest debt that most Americans will take on in their lifetime. As su...
Yourself
With the beginning of a new year, are you happy with your life the way it is now? You just set new goals and resolutions for 2003 but are you satisfied with wh...
Live the Adventure!
Think of an adventure that you might like to take. Maybe it is a trip to a foreign country or a major destination in your own country. Maybe it is to climb a mo...
Get the Internet on Your Own Terms
RSS for the rest of us. Why would regular web surfers like you and me bother to set up and use an RSS reader?
Acid Amino Arginine – An Acid With Many Benefits
If you want to buy an amino acid to enhance your health, arginine is a popular choice that offers many benefits. Read this article before you buy though.
Affiliate Programs : Golden Opportunity or Waste of Time?
Are affiliate programs a worthwhile business venture or a waste of time? This article explores various arguments both for and against affiliate programs.
Part II of Day Traders and Swing Traders and Options? Maybe!
More options trading strategies for day traders and swing traders.
Injured Athletes and Acupuncture
I have always been amazed at the clinical results that I have seen with injured
athletes and acupuncture.
The Sixty Second Stress Solution
We are all exposed to stress every day, at home and at work, and not one of us can honestly say that we don't feel the effects. No matter what is stressing you ...
Immaterial Gain
Among some of us who deem ourselves spiritual, the use of the word "spiritual" causes blushing and anxiety. What a pale word it is in the face of what earned s...
35 Surefire Ways to Kill a Meeting
1. Play "find the meeting" by changing the location and time of your meeting at the last minute. 2. Don't bother to book your meeting room in advance. Lead t...
Room by Room Makeovers: Kitchens for Cooking and Entertaining
Kitchens today are the family rooms of yesterday. Many have keeping rooms with fireplaces, and cozy nooks for reading, television viewing, and sharing a cup of ...
|
Print this page