Weight Loss Myths by Robert D. Franklin

Weight loss is losing excess fat or lean mass, particularly bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon and other connective tissue. Weight loss may happen unintentionally due to an underlying disease or can come from a conscious effort to improve an overweight or obese state.

Intentional weight loss would be the most common form of weight loss. This weight loss is due to the loss of total body mass in an effort to improve health and lifestyle and most commonly to change appearance.

Many people are put on what is known as therapeutic weight loss. This type of weight loss occurs in individuals who are overweight or obese and can decrease the likelihood of developing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, osteoarthritis, and certain types of cancer.

Watching your diet in particular can be extremely beneficial in reducing the impact of diabetes and other health risks of an overweight or obese individual.

Weight loss occurs when the body is consuming more energy (examples: work and heat) than it is gaining (examples: food or other nutritional supplements). If your body uses stored reserves from fat or muscle, then you will gradually lead to weight loss.

The least intrusive weight loss methods are adjustments to eating habits and increased physical activity, generally in the form of exercise. Physicians will usually recommend that their overweight patients use a combination of reduction of processed and caloric content of the diet with an increase in physical activity.

An increase in fiber intake is also recommended by many health professionals for regulating bowel movements, and speeding up the metabolism. Although, not a health professional, I recommend that you cleanse your colon at least once a year.

Other methods of weight loss include use of drugs and supplements that decrease appetite, blocking of fat absorption, or reducing stomach volume. I highly recommend that you consider the solutions found on this website since they have been studied and found to produce the desired goal and then some!

Other weight loss programs include: Weight Loss Coaching which is rapidly growing in popularity in the United States. And finally, surgery, which may be used in more severe cases to artificially reduce the size of the stomach.

Another popular form of weight loss, is a crash diet. A crash diet refers to willful nutritional restriction (except water) for more than 12 hours and is not recommended. Yes, you will lose weight, but there is a possibility of excessive muscle loss, depending on the approach used.

Weight loss industry information below deals with the USA and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject.

In the USA, there is a substantial market for products which promise to make weight loss easier, quicker, cheaper, more reliable, or less painful. Such items as books, CDs, cremes, lotions, pills, rings and earrings, body wraps, body belts and other materials, not to mention fitness centers, personal coaches, weight loss groups, and food products and supplements.

The weight loss industry is a $55 billion industry. Most of the money is spent on weight loss products and services, including medical procedures and pharmaceuticals. It is estimated that about 70 percent of Americans' dieting attempts are of a self-help nature.