We have all stayed up late flipping through channels and the only thing that is on are commercials to sell you this and that to lose weight. But do these pills, plans, or gadgets really work? While I have been a victim and fallen to the promise of "Do this for 30 days and it will change your life," I have had some success with products or plans. However, with lots of research, that tiny footnote at the bottom of the screen stating "Results Not Typical" is in fact true! It is much easier to get someone to spend $100 dollars on the hope of losing weight than it is to have them change their life in a way that leads to weight loss. The fact is, people will set their minds to something for a few days and then return to old habits which got them to being overweight in the first place. In order for these services to work, it is up to the person using them to determine the outcome. Just because you spend $49.99 on workout videos, doesn't mean you will magically fit into your jeans by Friday. Americans spend $40 billion dollars a year on weight loss products and services. Society factors play a role in why this industry is so huge. People have certain ideas about how they should look and the industry provides them with an infomercial that gives them hope that they themselves can look like a model. I know people that have had luck with such programs, but at what risk? I believe that the industry will continue to grow, but also support the increase in teens or young adults struggling with weight loss disorders and low self-esteem.
Spend Money Now..Lose Weight, Maybe?
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I believe that in today's society everyone is looking for shortcuts; the easy way out of a lifelong commitment that would actually require work and dedication. Any product or service that promises "fast" or "immediate" results are front runners among other products because people want satisfaction...NOW. However, many people fail to realize that the products or activities they spend so much money on for instant satisfaction can have detrimental and opposite results than they desire. Crash dieting only leads to one road- rebound. Many crash dieters fail to meet any of their goals because they fail to make a lifelong commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Programs such as "Weight Watchers" and "Nutrition for Life" dedicate themselves to promote longevity in health and wellness- those are programs worth being involved in.
I agree that our society has started to portray that only being physically fit is now the only socially acceptable way to be. But, I do not agree with your statement that the infomercials or what not portray models. I believe that these companies show success stories of individuals who have endeavored the programs and came out successful. My honest question is, and I know I have said this in several of my comments before relating to this subject, when will society not accept obesity. We could get into arguments about how it is not their fault or it was just in their genetics, but now a days in this century, the tools and resources are being provided to us. Smoking in public is very much becoming not socially acceptable, if not already so, and I am looking for the day when obesity is not socially acceptable, as it is in countries such as China.
A quote that I think perfectly describes this type of societal issue of the United States is from the book In Defense of Food by Micahel Pollan. "We are becoming a nation of orthexics: people with an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating." (page 9) As Pollan explains throughout his book, many of Americans' health and weight issues arise from not having a healthy relationship with their own body or with food. These magic pills are fueling the unhealthy relationship because they pose a potential shortcut to an apparent healthy life.
Body image has a pretty strong correlation with self esteem these days, and these "magic" programs only add to this issue. These fad diets, which eventually turn into yo-yo diets fluctuating people's weights in a very unhealthy manner, rarely ever work and tend to only harm peoples bodies. Pills, drinks, shakes or just strict regimens won't do the weight loss trick. Honestly, the old fashioned way of reducing junkfood and increasing work out regimens is what works best. But the creative advertisements and false expectations created by these weight loss companies are what really influence society today and have been posing issues and obstacles for those fighting against eating disorders and harmful dieting techniques.
I like this topic. As I have stated in other responses to blogs, I used to work in an eating disorders clinic and it was one of the most heart-breaking things I have ever seen. These individuals with so much potential destroying themselves to live up to something that they "think" is what people want them to be. I have a hard time with companies that make money off of things like this.
With saying that, I, myself, have fallen victim to one or two of these and gotten results as well, but the results were short-lived. I think there should be tougher restrictions on companies that sell these kinds of "magic pills/treatments."