90 Days Weight Loss Challenge Preparation Videoweightlossdiet Workoutathome Bodytransformation

Shark Tank is a US reality television show in which wannabe entrepreneurs must ‘sell’ their business ideas to panel of tycoons (‘sharks’) with intelligence as sharp as their bite. Some of the ideas pitched have resulted in the successful birth of businesses and products. But there’s one issue that Shark Tank viewers agonise over more than the aggressive pitting of panel against pitch: weight loss pills. As viewers seek a ‘magic’ weight-loss solution – something that helps them shed pounds with no more than a little water – exactly how true are the claims made by these products?

The Promise of Quick Fixes

On Shark Tank, one frequent theme for the weight loss pills presented on the show is that they magically make it easier to lose weight without dieting. And of course that’s why they’re so appealing! Who wouldn’t love to solve all their weight loss problems by taking a pill? The problem is that such a pill doesn’t exist. No pill will help you lose weight overnight. Healthy weight loss still takes effort, namely healthy eating, regular exercise, and healthy lifestyle choices.

Many weight-loss pills are combinations of ingredients which include caffeine, green tea, and other such supplements that supposedly act to increase the metabolism, suppress appetite, and increase the burning of fats, among other claims. Some of these ingredients, for instance, caffeine or catechins (antioxidants claimed to a trait unique to green tea) might have modest weight-loss effects under certain circumstances, but results are usually not all that dramatic. The pills aren’t regulated by the FDA, so they can claim whatever they like – and you have no way of knowing what effects the treatment will have on you.

The Dangers of False Claims

Additionally, some of the statistics and testimonials used as weight-loss pill pitch commercials for Shark Tank viewers are false and inflated. With scammed photos and testimonials, many weight-loss companies try to mislead consumers to consume their pills. Often, the before pictures are photoshopped, and the after pictures are merely the same photograph cloned to create an ‘after’. Many big companies relaying ‘real people’ testimonials are either fake or biased former employees who only say this stuff for personal gain.

Some have been linked to damaging side effects from undisclosed ingredients, including prescription drugs and various banned substances. Beyond possible dangers contained in the product, if there is no clear understanding of how the pill works there can be no sensible assessment of the risks and rewards. Moreover, relying on a pill for weight loss can create a cycle of yo-yo dieting and damage to one’s relationship with food and their body image. Trying to lose weight without a healthy attitude simply won’t work. And relying on a magic pill prevents us from the real work we need to do. Instead, we need to stop looking for a quick fix and consider our attitude when it comes to weight loss.

The Importance of Lifestyle Changes

Weight-loss pills might hold out the lure of an easy fix for the obesity epidemic, but the hard truth is that a lasting weight loss requires the real thing: a long-term overhaul of lifestyle, for instance with a healthy diet, regular exercise, stress management and plenty of rest. That might not bring fast results like a pill, but is instead the basis for a healthier and more content life.

So athletes and others interested in weight loss would be wise to be skeptical of supplements that make bold claims, and to school themselves on the basics of nutrition before trying a new supplement. Check with a provider, like your physician or a registered dietitian, before undertaking any weight-loss diet, and avoid the thinking that slimness alone is a miraculous fix for overall health. There is no fountain of youth.

Conclusion

Sure, a weight loss pill pitched on Shark Tank might suggest easy weight loss without effort if you buy the product and take it, but real solutions require permanent change in eating, exercise and lifestyle, and not in a pill. The magical solutions, faked testimonials and claims used in product promotion can be dispelling, but it demands each of us to foster healthy thinking and healthy expectations of what it takes to lose weight. The simple truth is that there still are no shortcuts, pills, potions or lotions that promise the goal of long-term weight loss and wellbeing.

Please remember to always put your health and happiness first, and to discuss any weight-loss products or programs with your healthcare provider before trying them. The best way to succeed in your weight loss efforts is to focus on making small, sustainable changes in your lifestyle – and in doing so you’ll not only actually lose weight, but you’ll also become a healthier, happier you.