Monthly Archives: March 2023

More than a Body

28 Million People in the United States will suffer from an eating disorder in their life time. (Anderson et.al, 2018). That is roughly 9% of the population.

 Eating Disorder: (Def) A range of mental conditions where there is a persistent disturbance of eating behaviors and impairment of physical or mental health.

Although they have been research for a long time, eating disorders remain very misunderstood disorders (Anderson,2018).

Social Media Effects on Recovery

There is a link between certain social media apps and increased body image concerns. These concerns become more prevalent when users frequent “fitspiration” and “thinspiration” pages

Social media can trigger post-traumatic stress disorders and there is a strong correlation between eating disorders and PTSD (Brewerton et. al 2020)

Fitspiration (def) a person or thing that serves as motivation for someone to sustain or improve health and fitness

Thinspiration . (def) used in reference to something or someone that serves as motivation for a person seeking to maintain a very low body weight

 

https://youtu.be/WU-JMYnEgyI

  • In the above YouTube video the “hashtag” thinspiration is discussed through the eyes of a standup comedian. This standup comedian is recovering from anorexia and often times will use it as his content during his shows. He states that he relapsed while using social media in the past. The term thinspiration is used often in social media and is refers to social media content that inspires users to be thin. This can be triggering for those who are recovering or are suffering from an eating disorder

Triggers

When in recovery, social media can trigger people to have disordered eating behaviors. Posts about weight loss, and workouts, along with filtered pictures can cause people to feel out of control. This can make those recovering and dealing with eating disorders feel like they need to lose weight as well to reach these unrealistic standards.

https://youtu.be/d7DEoICj-AM

This above video highlights the social media platform Tiktok and how the narrators believes it promotes health eating. The video goes through several different trends and hacks that are promoted on the app. Several of these include limiting your daily calories to extremely low amounts such as 800 or 1200 calories a day. There are other hacks that highlight ways to feel full without actually eating food which are highlighted as “skinny girl hacks”. The narrator of the YouTube video expresses her feelings that the Tiktok app glamorizes disordered eating and could be triggering for those who are currently suffering or recovering from an eating disorder. She highlights as well the more that a person views this content the more often it appears on their page due to an algorithm.

 

Taking control of your recovery

Only follow pages that make you good about yourself

Don’t be afraid to unfollow pages that are triggering

Take breaks from social media if and when needed

Try filling your social media with body positive pages and a range of different topics that do not involve body image as well

 

Resources for Recovery

Recovery Record Eating Disorder Management  (Free eating disorder recovery App)

www.betterhelp.com  (Online therapy)

choosingtherapy.com ( Online rescource)

Rise up and recovery app

 

You are stronger than your eating disorder.

 

References

  Anderson, L. K., Claudat, K., Cusack, A., Brown, T. A., Trim, J., Rockwell, R., Nakamura, T., Gomez, L., & Kaye, W. H. (2018). Differences in emotion regulation difficulties among adults and adolescents across eating disorder diagnoses. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(10), 1867–1873. https://doi-org.ezproxy.neit.edu/10.1002/jclp.22638

Brewerton, T. D., Perlman, M. M., Gavidia, I., Suro, G., Genet, J., & Bunnell, D. W. (2020). The association of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder with greater eating disorder and comorbid symptom severity in residential eating disorder treatment centers. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53(12), 2061–2066. https://doi-org.ezproxy.neit.edu/10.1002/eat.23401

Groth, T., Hilsenroth, M., Boccio, D., & Gold, J. (2020). Relationship between Trauma History and Eating Disorders in Adolescents. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 13(4), 443–453. https://doi-org.ezproxy.neit.edu/10.1007/s40653-019-00275-z

Weightloss

   Can You REALLY Lose 10 Pounds in 10 Days?

Let’s face it. Losing weight and doing it quickly is something that most people in their lives are striving to accomplish. Whether it be for your next vacation, your friend’s wedding, fitting back into that old pair of jeans, or even just your overall health, we are always looking for that quick fix. Although we continue to search for the fastest solution, losing 10 pounds in 10 days is NOT a healthy way to lose weight! Here are some misconceptions that will lead you to think otherwise!

Below are some ways the media suggests to lose weight…QUICKLY.

[YouTube. (2021). YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt7VvRULHP8]

The video above provides you with a recipe on how to prepare the juice as well as the proper directions on how many times a day to drink it in order to lose weight. Although the video does not discuss this, the title of the video suggests that you will lose 30 pounds in 2 weeks if you follow the directions provided. The video clip does not explain whether or not you should be eating while drinking the juice or if you should be exercising while drinking the juice.

YouTube. (2022, February 7). Weight loss journey: 3 detox drinks that helped me lose 30 lbs in 3 weeks | Part.1 | Chazslifestyle. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojc8tXGItAI

The video above portrays that loosing 30 pounds in 3 weeks is possible by drinking 3 different detox shots a day. Although the video does review the purpose of each detox shot and what each ingredient specifically does for the body, it does not discuss whether or not you should be eating or exercising while drinking these shots.

Along with drinking juices and participating in different cleasnes to lose weight, the media is also promoting a device called Lumen. Lumen is advertised as the world’s first product that can “hack your metabolism with just one breath” (Lumen, 2018). People will use the Lumen product by breathing once into the device and allowing it to detect their current metabolism. In other words, you blow into the device, and it tells you if you are currently burning carbohydrates or body fat for energy. The advertisement states, “you can breathe once in the morning and get a personalized nutrition plan for the day” (Lumen, 2018). The Lumen will present a “plan” for the day and the information provided will be based on your personal goals and eating habits. Breathing into the machine tells you if you will have enough energy to workout, or if you need to “fuel up” by eating something beforehand. Overall, the purpose of Lumen is to track your own metabolism so that you are using the food you eat more efficiently. If your metabolism is working appropriately, you are able to burn fat, ultimately leading to weight loss.

Below are the FACTS. You can lose weight, maintain your weightloss and remain healthy…EFFECTIVELY.

The article “Want to lose seven pounds in a week? Think about the health effects first” discusses the effects of losing weight quickly and what it really does to your body. The main points of this article suggest that if you are losing seven pounds in a week, then you are likely losing water weight. The article also suggests that losing more than two pounds in one week is not a healthy way to lose weight (Rindfleisch, 2006). Vach, a registered dietician states that if you are losing that much weight in a week, you are only losing fluid and a small percentage of body fat (Rindfleisch, 2006).  Vach says that if an individual were to lose seven pounds in a week, they are likely receiving inadequate nutrition. She also states that losing weight quickly could lower someone’s metabolism and ultimately leave them with trouble burning fat (Rindfleisch, 2006). The article recommends that one to two pounds of fat lost per week is considered to be healthy and more importantly, how you lose weight is just as imperative as losing it (Rindfleisch, 2006). The article says that although most people are attracted to the quick-fix diet, they only provide short-term weight loss. The article also provides tips such as eating slowly and putting a small amount of food on your plate to promote sustainable weight loss.

The main point of the article “Lose weight…and keep it off” was to discuss healthy ways to lose weight and maintain weight loss. Some of the suggestions that were provided in this article were cutting calories, being aware of the quality of food consumed, eating naturally fiber-rich foods, and making small behavior changes (Staff, 2021). When cutting calories, you want to be burning more calories than consumed in order to lose weight. Once the desired weight is lost, regular weighing, monitoring the amount of food consumed and regular physical activity will help to maintain weight loss (Staff, 2021). According to the article, eating naturally fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and beans are all choices that can help to control the amount of hunger one might feel. Other suggestions were also provided. The article also discloses a list of science-backed tips and tricks for healthy, maintained weight loss.

The article “Losing weight” written by the CDC informs the reader that losing weight in a healthy way is not about being on a diet or enrolling in a specific program, however, it is more about making lifestyle, and behavior changes. Some of these changes may include changing your eating habits, your level of physical activity, and also managing your stress (CDC, 2022). The article states that it is natural to want to lose weight quickly, however, it stresses the importance of losing weight gradually in order to maintain the weight loss (CDC, 2022). The article also provides the reader with a step-by-step guide to help you get on the right path for weight loss and overall better health (CDC, 2022). The article suggests looking at weight loss as a journey, rather than as a final destination (CDC, 2022). This means that just because you reach your goal weight in a healthy way, your new habits will become your way of life in order to maintain your weight loss.

The article “Losing weight Safely and Keeping It Off” by Nation’s Health discusses the importance of losing weight and the overall effects it can have on your health. It informs the reader that there are safe ways to lose weight and to make sure that you are aware of what you are getting yourself into before doing it. For example, the article suggests not just handing over your credit card and buying into a diet that says, “you will lose weight fast” because chances are, the information is not accurate and the way in which you would be losing weight is not safe or healthy for your body. Specifically, it warns the reader to steer away from fad diets being that they do not guarantee long-term results and can harm your health (Johnson, 2012). Overall, the article suggests that food restriction, exercise, and behavior changes are what ultimately help you to lose weight safely.

To sum it up: When searching for ways to quickly lose weight on the internet, the fad diet will always be available. Alhough these fad diets and juice cleanses may work for a quick fix, they will not provide a healthy way to lose weight. Typically, the weightloss will not be maintained and therefore, is not considered to be a healthy way to accomplish your goal. The evidence above has demonstrated the benefits to losing weight in a safe and healthy way, despite the media’s push for a quick fix. It is important to be aware than anyone can upload information onto the internet without any restrictions. It is considered to be best practice to trust the scholarly articles over what you may find on the internet. It is recommended to check the information found on the internet with scholarly and peer reviewed articles for validity.

Written by: Lindsey Krevitsky

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, September 19). Losing weight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight

Johnson, T. D. (2012). Losing weight safely and keeping it off. Nation’s Health, 42(6), 36.

Rindfleisch, T. (2006). Want to lose seven pounds in a week? Think about the health effects           first. La Crosse Tribune (WI).

Staff, E. (2021, December 21). Lose weight…and keep it off. Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter.  https://www.nutritionletter.tufts.edu/special-reports/lose-weight-and-keep-it-off/

A cure for Autism?

Autism is not something that can be cured. There are many ways to enhance an Autistic child’s life, but trying to cure them is not one of them.

But the vaccines!?!

There are endless claims that the heavy metals in vaccines cause Autism. This has been debunked many times. The connection between Autism and the MMR vaccine was initially introduced after a lengthy study of this vaccine and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a common condition causing gastric discomfort. While there is evidence that leads to a connection between the MMR vaccine and IBD, there is no connection with Autism.

The next time a medical professional claimed that vaccines caused Autism it actually ended with the doctor losing his ability to practice medicine. After being found guilty of falsifying research and only including information that solidified his argument Andrew Wakefield was stripped of his medical license.

To this day there are many people who chose to believe that the MMR vaccine causes Autism. This can be seen all across social media as influencers claim they have found a detox that works or an essential oil that will rid the body of toxins. This has caused a drop in vaccination rates across the United States, which has lead to outbreaks of once eradicated diseases like measles.

So, if not the vaccine, then what about the metals?

There is connection between higher levels of metals in the blood stream of Autistic children. But this has been connected to environmental factors such as products used during pregnancy, exposure to secondhand smoke, lead paint, leaded fuel and many more environmental toxins.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is the timing of diagnosis. Children are typically diagnosed with Autism in early childhood, they are also given these vaccines in early childhood. So it may appear  that there is a correlation but peer reviewed research states otherwise.

It’s fine, we’ll just detox the metals out! 

At this time, there is little to no research about heavy metal detoxes. There are few doctors that are comfortable with the practice, which means that there is almost no medical guidance for detoxing a child’s body from suspected heavy metals.

Most of the guidance surrounding these detoxes through baths, essential oils or even bleach (scary) are coming from social media influencers with a large following on platforms such as youtube, tik tok or instagram. They typically do not have any medical background. This is dangerous. Would you take medical advice from someone who’s most notable attribute is having 1 million followers?

Okay so no detoxes, what can we do instead?

Accept that Autism does not change who your child is, it only changes the way they experience the world around them. As an Occupational Therapy practitioner I primarily work with Autistic children. One of the best things that has worked for a lot of the children I see is having their family learn to navigate the world with them. Autistic people have different experiences than neuro-typical people (people with Autism, ADHD, or any neurological differences). Learning the way the child you love sees the world will help you understand them better and how to better suit their needs. Occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, sensory gyms, autistic friendly experiences and exploring activities that fall into their niche are a few ways to get started on acceptance.

A cure might sound inviting, but learning to live in your Autistic child’s world is really what they need.

 

In this video, the speaker talks about her positive experience with being diagnosed with Autism and how everything she ever thought it was turned out to be wrong. 

Want to learn more about studies debunking vaccines and Autism? You’re in luck! Find them here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136032/

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.4/mdavidson

https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-virology-092818-015515

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/1/308

Resources

Błażewicz, A., & Grabrucker, A. M. (2022). Metal Profiles in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Crosstalk between Toxic and Essential Metals. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(1). https://doi-org.ezproxy.neit.edu/10.3390/ijms24010308 

Davidson, M. (2017) Vaccination as a cause of autism—myths and controversies, Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 19:4, 403-407, DOI: 10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.4/mdavidson 

DeStefano, F., & Shimabukuro, T. T. (2019). The MMR vaccine and autism. Annual review of virology, 6, 585-600. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-virology-092818-015515  

LaSalle, G. (2018). When the answer to vaccines is “No.” The Journal of Family Practice, 67(6), 348. 

What You should Know about Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis, aka RA, is inflammation from the immune system attacking healthy cells in the body where two bones meet. The attack by the body’s immune cells results in pain in the joints and deformities over time. RA occurs all over the body, most notably in the hands and weight-bearing joints such as the spine, knees, and feet.  A medical doctor known as a Rheumatologist will use blood tests and x-rays to diagnose RA. Some signs and symptoms though out the body are weakness,  warm joints, painful stiff joints, and fatigue.

Virginia’s story

 

What are the Risk Factors?

The medical community does not know what causes RA. Below is a list of risk factors. The good news is that some of these factors are avoidable:

  • 60 + years old ⏳
  • Smoking 🚬
  • Obesity
  • Genetics🧬
  • Female who has never given birth ♀
  • 2nd hand Smoke exposure a Child👶 🚬

What can Decrease the Risk of RA?

If you’re a woman who chooses to give birth, you can decrease your chances of RA by breastfeeding.

Keeping a healthy body weight through diet and exercise. Because your DNA plays a role in getting RA, being overweight and smoking can amplify your chances of developing RA.

What is the Treatment/Cure?

Your RA treatment will be unique to you. Collaborate with your doctor 🩺 to create a treatment goal that’s right for you. A diagnosis of RA is made worse if you also suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes or other cardiovascular disorders. Remember, there is no cure; low disease activity or remission may be possible. Your RA can be managed by using the following:

 

working with your doctor

 

Medication: 💊 Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is a type of medication used to minimize your immune system’s attacks on itself. Over-the-counter pain medication is also used for pain and inflammation control.

Occupational therapy

 

Occupational Therapy (OT): An OT can provide treatment for joint protection and range of motion. The OT will work with you to adapt your environment, helping you preserve independence.

Stop Smoking:🚭 Seek treatment from a family doctor or smoking sensation program. Cigarette smoke can make the symptoms of RA worse.

Surgery: Surgery may be needed as symptoms progress as a means to retain function.

Managing Obesity: Being active for 30 minutes 3 times a week. An active lifestyle can help keep the weight off. Being overweight puts more stress on arthritic joints, causing you more pain. Water aerobics, swimming, and yoga are highly recommended. Being obese can play diminish the effects of RA medication.

Diet: Avoid highly processed foods, alcohol, saturated fats (solid at room temperature), and red meat🥓. Eating food rich in Omega-3 and turmeric has been shown to reduce the inflammatory symptoms of RA. Check with your Rheumatologist before starting any specific diet or taking supplements. some supplements can affect the medication for RA.

   

 

There is currently no cure for RA, be careful of bogus claims that certain herbs or supplements can cure you. Seek out reputable information 

Where should I seek help?

Talk to your family Doctor. They can refer you to a Rheumatologist.

To find a rheumatologist near you, visit the American College of Rheumatology site.  Click find-a-rheumatologist this link will guide you to a rheumatologist in your area.

Remember your journey with RA is unique to you. Find a rheumatologist, ask questions, collaborate on a plan of care, and take action through diet and exercise.

 

References :

CNN. (2013, December 6). Symptoms and Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq9ouUVGzG8

Isaza, A. (2019). Dietary Supplements for Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis as an Alternative to NSAIDs. View Point on the Available Research. Nutritional Perspectives: Journal of the Council on Nutrition, 42(3), 42–44.

Mayo Clinic. (2013, November 14). The Pain, Swelling And Stiffness of Rheumatoid Arthritis [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY8j1UznqIg

Rath, L. (2022). Rheumatoid arthritis treatment guidelines. https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/more-about/rheumatoid-arthritis-treatment-guidelines

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) | Arthritis | CDC. (2020.). https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/rheumatoid-arthritis.html

Spinal Cord Injuries

What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
Damage to the nerves in the spinal cord or the spinal cord itself due to sudden trauma.

Statistics:
According to the Miami Project, 78% of new diagnosed spinal cord injuries are males and 22% are females. Currently the amount of individuals diagnosed with a spinal cord injury in the U.S. is ranged from 250,000 to 300,000 persons (Statistics: The Miami Project, 2021)

(Oxford Medical Education, 2016)

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

  •  Incomplete: messages are still able to travel to and from the brain to a certain degree.
  • Complete: messages are unable to travel to in and from the brain.
    (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022)

Symptoms: 

  • Paralysis (Loss of movement)
  • Pressure/Pain in the neck, spine or head
  • Numbness starting in the hands or feet
  • Difficulties walking or breathing
(Incomplete SCI, 2022)

Some Types of Treatment

Physical Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Medication

Mental Health

Rehab Counseling

Read stories of individuals living with this diagnosis below

Mike's Story
Bill's Story
Kyle's Story
Laeitia's Story
Click HERE More Information about types of rehab and the process into regaining independence!

References
Bloomberg Originals. (2020, January 6). This accidental treatment is reversing paralysis. YouTube. Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://youtu.be/KCpYa8DsUhA

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Types, effects, & recovery. Flint Rehab. (2022, July 6). Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.flintrehab.com/incomplete-spinal-cord-injury/

Lennon, A. (2022, May 20). Drug shows promise in treating spinal cord injury: Drug Discovery and Development. Labroots. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.labroots.com/trending/drug-discovery-and-development/22795/drug-promise-treating-spinal-cord-injury?gclid=CjwKCAiA0cyfBhBREiwAAtStHH93jJDpR_03KKDGLocrGK6tR-_OuQtjw2_1gQXsR1ajeJJ7Ghvw1hoCrwgQAvD_BwE

Medications for spinal cord injury: What doctors may prescribe. Flint Rehab. (2021, April 23). Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.flintrehab.com/medications-for-spinal-cord-injury/

Northwestern University. (2021, November 11). Severe spinal cord injuries repaired with ‘dancing molecules’. YouTube. Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://youtu.be/Q_xvCE904YU

Oxford Medical Education. (2016). Spinal trauma – anatomy. Oxford Medical Education. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://oxfordmedicaleducation.com/surgery/trauma-and-orthopaedics/spinal-trauma-anatomy/

Occupational therapy for Spinal Cord Injury. Flint Rehab. (2021, July 14). Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.flintrehab.com/occupational-therapy-for-spinal-cord-injury/#:~:text=Occupational%20therapy%20applies%20both%20restorative,affected%20by%20spinal%20cord%20injury.

Statistics. The Miami Project. (2021, March 17). Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.themiamiproject.org/resources/statistics/#:~:text=General%20Statistics,78%25%20of%20new%20SCI%20cases.

Therapeutic interventions for Spinal Cord Injury. Physiopedia. (2022). Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.physio-pedia.com/Therapeutic_Interventions_for_Spinal_Cord_Injury

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). Spinal Cord Injury. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/spinal-cord-injury

P Y

Weight Loss Supplement: Too Good to Be True?  

Mens Weight Loss Plans

By: Chris Hall

The truth about weight Loss Supplement  

Manufacturing companies of diet supplement market their products on YouTube, retail chains such as Costco and GNC, news websites, television, the Internet, etc. Some of these advertisements are deceptive scams and unfair advertisements that mislead the public. For Example, there are too many advertisements for weight loss supplements on television, social media, etc. Are these products truly working, effective, and safe? The answer is NO. After digging deeper and searching for evidence that shows the effectiveness of weight loss supplements, such as Sensa, Hydroxycut, Best Share Green Coffee, and more, I found some sources that demonstrate these products are ineffective and may cause harm. Also, these manufacturing companies use deceptive advertising and provide inaccurate information to increase their sales and profits.

The U.S Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Roles:  

The mission of the FTC is to protect customers by preventing misleading and unfair commercial activities, as well as the mission of the FDA is to protect public health by ensuring the safety and efficacy of human drugs, food supply, and cosmetics. The FDA has the authority to ban the sale of these products due to safety concerns. Here are some examples of action taken by the FTC and FDA:  

  • In 2004, the FTC issued a press report on its website stating that Sensa powder and three other weight-loss product marketers (L’Occitane cream, HCG Diet Direct drops, and Colon Cleanse) have settled charges brought against them by the FTC due to deceptive advertisement indicating true weight loss from these products. The product commercials claimed customers would lose weight without dieting or modifying their exercise routines. They also made false and unsupported claims that their products are FDA-approved and scientifically proven (Staff & Nguyen, 2021).

  • The FDA issued a warning in May 2009 in response to 23 incidents of Hydroxycut-related diseases, one of which resulted in death (Carol, 2013).
  • The FDA recommends that customers don’t purchase or use Best Shar Green Coffee: Brazilian Slimming Coffee. This weight loss product was advertised and sold on multiple websites; however, it contained a controlled substance, which was banned from the market in October 2010 for safety purposes (Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, 2015).     

Why do people purchase and use weight loss supplements?  

There are three main reasons people purchase and use these products:  

  1.  Obesity is a well-known issue in America and losing weight can be difficult. The frustration and struggle with being unable to see rapid results via special diets and physical activity lead them to use weight loss supplements.
  2. Remarkable advertising portrays these products as a “magic bullet” for losing weight while emphasizing that they include natural ingredients, giving a false sense of security, that these products are safe and effective.
  3. These products are also available over the counter and are easier to obtain without requiring a prescription.  

Can weight loss supplements be harmful? 

There is no evidence demonstrating the quality, safety, and effectiveness of weight loss supplements. Some of these products can cause negative effects and various risk factors, such as a wide range of indications of muscle weakness, muscle pain, and dark urine, which in turn can lead to kidney failure, swelling of the limbs, and even death. Many weight loss supplement manufacturers frequently advertise their products as promoting weight loss as well as bodybuilding while also stating they are made from natural ingredients, however, fail to mention other hidden chemical components and substances that might be dangerous. According to Saper et al.’s (2004) randomized controlled trial studies investigated some weight loss supplement products and found that such compounds used in making these products may be harmful and cause adverse events, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, etc. The high amounts of caffeine in dietary supplements can result in muscles cells breakdown.

 According to the Military Medicine journal article, three cases of U.S. army soldiers who used the weight loss supplement brand Hydroxycut experienced signs of muscle cell breakdown due to the high unspecified amount of caffeine in the product ingredients (Carol, 2013).

Recommendation about Weight- Loss Supplements:

  • Before beginning to utilize dietary supplements, discuss them with your doctor.  
  • Customers should use caution when attempting to purchase any of these products, particularly those that have not been approved by the FDA and do not provide complete ingredient information.
  • Do not be deceived by commercials that provide misleading information to attract consumers seeking rapid solutions which can be unobtainable.
  • Be aware that in order for a dietary supplement to be safe for public usage, it needs to obtain two acceptable and well-controlled human clinical studies to support its results.

In conclusion, there is no weight-loss supplement product that meets the criteria of high-standard quality, safety, or effectiveness. Some contain hidden substances and high caffeine that can possibly cause serious health risks. Many of these products have not been approved by the FDA and have been reported to the FTC.

References: 

Carol, M. L. (2013). Hydroxycut Weight Loss Dietary Supplements: A Contributing Factor in the Development of Exertional Rhabdomyolysis in Three U.S. Army Soldiers. Military Medicine, 178(9), e1039–e1042. https://doi.org/10.7205/milmed-d-13-00133 

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. (2015, October 23). Public Notification: Best Share Green Coffee: Brazilian Slimming Coffee Contains Hidden Drug Ingredient. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud/public-notification-best-share-green-coffee-brazilian-slimming-coffee-contains-hidden-drug 

Saper, R. B., Eisenberg, D. M., & Phillips, R. S. (2004, November 1). Common dietary supplements for weight loss. American Family Physician. Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2004/1101/p1731.html 

Staff, the P. N. O., & Gaynor, A. (2021, September 18). Sensa and three other marketers of fad weight-loss products settle FTC charges in crackdown on deceptive advertising. Federal Trade Commission. Retrieved February 11, 2023, from https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2014/01/sensa-three-other-marketers-fad-weight-loss-products-settle-ftc-charges-crackdown-deceptive

Hydroxycut. (2022, January 19). Hydroxycut Before and After 2022 – Keilan [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc_cbbjVzHI 

Lose weight. (2013, December 17). Sensa Weight Loss System Commercial [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy2sHt4K2rk