Comparison of Weight Loss Methods

Many people who want to lose weight try to do so as fast as possible; sometimes turning to weight loss supplements and crash diets. The trouble with this is that if you try to lose weight using these methods, you may be putting your health at risk. Additionally, you are at an increased risk of gaining all the weight back that you lost and starting the vicious weight loss yo-yo cycle.

Healthy Weight Loss

In order to lose weight and stay healthy, your weight loss program should be centered around eating a well balanced and exercising every day. By doing this, you can lose up to two pounds per week, which is a healthy weight loss rate.

When you embark upon a healthy eating plan, you will have to forego unhealthy foods, such as high fat and high calorie snack foods and soft drinks. All of these types of products contain very little, if any, nutrition for the number of calories in the snacks. Instead of eating those types of foods, you will have to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. You will also eat lean meats and beans. Low fat milk and milk products are also necessary, as is a very small amount of healthy oil every day.

Weight Loss Supplements

There are many weight loss supplements available, but many of these haven't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This is because the FDA doesn't have to approve dietary supplements.

The one exception to this is a drug called Alli. This is an over-the-counter form of the prescription weight loss drug, orlistat. However, the Mayo Clinic reports that even this drug may be linked to liver problems.

Once a new weight loss supplement comes onto the market, people who take the supplements can report problems to the FDA. If the problems are verified and serious enough to make the supplement a serious danger to the public, the FDA may ban the supplement. Ephedra and country mallow are two such substances.

Because of the possible dangers of supplements and because supplements are only meant for short-term use, a better option to lose weight is to follow a healthy diet and exercise program.

Crash Diets

Crash diets and fad diets are unhealthy ways to lose weight that people often run to because of claims of rapid weight loss. These diets usually allow only one type of food or food group. Some diets will allow multiple food groups while outlawing others. This isn't healthy for the body because the body needs nutrients from all of the food groups to function properly.

Another problem with crash diets is that when you lose weight too fast, you are usually losing water weight and lean muscle mass instead of losing fat. Your body needs to stay hydrated to function properly and most organs are made up of lean muscle mass.

Conclusion

If you are interested in losing weight and keeping the weight off while staying healthy, all you need to do is eat a healthy diet and exercise for at least 60 minutes per day on most, or even all, days of the week. No spending money on supplements or weight loss programs is required.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/hq01160

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09363.html