Understanding Weight-Loss Programs

Understanding Weight Loss Programs......Page 2
About The Author......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
Introduction......Page 6
Confusing Weight-Loss Claims......Page 7
Promises, Promises......Page 8
Dieting Harm......Page 9
What You Will Find in This Book......Page 10
1 The Weight-Loss Industry......Page 11
A Big Business......Page 12
The Lure of Thin......Page 13
Low Success Rates......Page 18
Bogus Claims......Page 19
The Law......Page 20
Dieting Dangers......Page 21
Weight Recycling or Yo-Yo Dieting......Page 24
Teens and the Weight-Loss Industry......Page 25
2 The Quest to Lose Weight......Page 26
Losing Through the Ages......Page 27
Diet Mania Strikes......Page 28
Thin Becomes In......Page 29
The Frenzy Escalates......Page 30
More Ways to Lose......Page 32
Where Are We Today?......Page 33
The Bottom Line: An Ever-Growing Industry......Page 35
3 Commercial Weight-Loss Programs......Page 36
How They're Alike......Page 37
Costs......Page 39
Getting Customers......Page 41
Very Low-Calorie Liquid (VLCL) Programs......Page 42
Menu Programs......Page 43
Weight-Loss Camps......Page 44
The Lure of Advertising......Page 45
Choosing a Weight-Loss Program......Page 46
Good Weight-Loss Programs......Page 47
The Bottom Line......Page 52
4 Bogus Weight-Loss Products......Page 54
Phony Methods and Devices......Page 55
Fat-Melting Creams......Page 56
Massages and Wraps......Page 58
Hypnosis......Page 59
Sweating It Off......Page 60
More Diet Gimmicks......Page 61
Prescription Diet Pills......Page 62
OTC Diet Pills......Page 64
Other OTC Diet Pills......Page 66
Diuretics and Laxatives......Page 68
Dietary Supplements as Weight-Loss Aids......Page 69
"Magical" Food Diets......Page 70
High-Protein/Low-Carbohydrate Diets......Page 78
High-Fat Diets......Page 79
Liquid Diets or Meal-Replacement Shakes......Page 80
Fasting......Page 81
What about Fat-Free Foods?......Page 83
The Bottom Line on Bogus Weight-Loss Products......Page 84
5 Why Diet Plans and Programs Don't Work......Page 85
Early Research......Page 86
The Selling of America......Page 88
Advertising Is Powerful......Page 90
Myth #1: All You Need Is the Right Diet......Page 91
Myth #2: Ideal Weight Is the Dieting Target......Page 93
Myth #5: The Faster You Lose Weight, the Faster You'll Reach Your Weight Goal......Page 94
Myth #6: The Quickest (and Best) Way to Lose Weight Is to Fast......Page 95
Myth #7: Everyone's Dieting . . . So Dieting Must Work......Page 96
Myth #9: Okay, So Diets Don't Work for Most People—Maybe I'm an Exception......Page 97
The Bottom Line......Page 98
Dieting Sabotages the Metabolism......Page 100
Dieting Doesn't Bring Happiness or Success......Page 101
Dieting Can Lead to Eating Disorders......Page 102
Anorexia Nervosa......Page 104
Bulimia......Page 109
Compulsive Overeating......Page 112
7 What's Right for Me?......Page 119
What's a Healthy Weight?......Page 120
Emotional Support Groups: TOPS, OA......Page 121
TOPS......Page 122
Overeaters Anonymous (OA)......Page 123
The Government's Ongoing Battles......Page 126
Looking at the Headlines—and Beyond......Page 128
Print and Electronic Misinformation......Page 130
Who's a Qualified Nutrition Expert?......Page 131
Watch Out for These People......Page 133
Is a Commercial Weight-Loss Program or Support Group for You?......Page 134
And the Winner Is—You!......Page 135
Glossary......Page 139
Eating Disorder Information......Page 141
Diet and Nutrition Information......Page 144
For Further Reading......Page 146
D......Page 148
K......Page 149
U......Page 150
Z......Page 151