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SCMP Reporter

Exercise, good diet only way to lose weight: consumer body

The booming slimming industry is a haven for dubious claims that take advantage of a gullible public willing to try anything to lose weight, the Consumer Council warned yesterday.

Electric currents, injections of vitamins and infrared radiation were among the fads it dismissed. And staff at slimming centres were criticised for having little knowledge of how the body works.

Between January and September the council received 82 complaints, compared with 44 in the whole of last year, mostly about ineffective treatment, price disputes and sales tactics.

The council examined 24 advertisements collected from newspapers, magazines and  websites to investigate claims of painless dieting. Council staff also visited nine slimming centres to inquire about treatments and prices.

'Invariably they hold out the promise of effortless weight loss,' said  Matthew Ng Ma-tai, chairman of the public and community relations panel.  He cited one advert that equated 30 minutes on their treadmill to four hours of jogging.

The council  said a balanced diet and regular exercise was the only proven way to lose weight.

'According to our experts, electric currents do not regenerate body cells, promote blood and lymphatic circulation, eliminate fat or remove excessive water,' Dr Ng said. Infrared radiation was deemed equally ineffective, causing mild heating but little else.

Dr Ng admitted that ultrasound can complement liposuction to remove fat, but ultrasound treatment on its own lacked the active ingredient. He also said that massage does not involve active physical exercise (except for the masseur), so it cannot burn fat, and neither can the cocktail of lotions, plant extracts and ointments applied during massage.

The council noted the emergence of a slimming treatment called mesotherapy, or the injection of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and medication beneath the skin to promote anything from weight loss to hair growth.

The council also warned that the quality of information provided by staff at slimming centres showed they had little knowledge of the human body and frequently used exaggerated claims and one-off offers to lure customers.

Dr Ng urged consumers not to fall for their 'hi-tech appeal', and to disregard advertisement claims as 'mere puff'.

A spokeswoman for the Bureau of Health, Welfare and Food said slimming fell outside its  scope of action. 'Slimming is not regarded as a health concern,' she said.



Slimming fads cut down to size