Kudos to Leigh (@bookieboo) of Mamavation for proposing that bloggers write today about “what they think is wrong with the health/fitness industry and what they think can be changed.”
What’s wrong with the health and fitness industry? I could name a whole lot of things that irritate me, but today I’m going to focus on Numero Uno, the main thing that hacks me off day after day and does untold damage to people who desperately need to change their lives.
The problem is lies. And lies are everywhere. On informercials (OK, I don’t actually watch informercials, but I know the kind of stuff they advertise), on magazine covers, on the Internet, in bookstores, and everywhere else products and ideas are sold.
The biggest health and fitness lie is this: You can “lose weight” quickly and easily and without sacrifice. All you need is our miracle diet plan, on which you’ll eat all your favorite foods and never go hungry! You’ll lose 30 pounds (of what?) in 30 days! You’ll get thin thighs and six-pack abs with our herbal fat-burning supplement! You’ll develop a fitness-model physique on an exercise plan that takes just minutes a week!
You all know what I’m talking about.
We consumers are only human, and there’s a part of us that longs to believe there’s an insider secret to getting back into our skinny jeans or looking great naked. We’re vulnerable because our desire is so strong, and when marketers promise us the moon, we want to believe.
So, liars, we’ve tried your ridiculous fad diets, and we couldn’t maintain them. We’ve wasted money on your worthless fat burners. We’ve bought your stupid ab training machines. We’ve devoured the magazines and books that promised miracle solutions. And then we blamed ourselves because none of the miracles worked as promised.
The truth is that we can change our lives. We can learn the habits that will get us healthy and keep us there—but it’s a big job that takes patience and requires changing the way we eat, the way we spend our leisure time, and often the people we hang out with.
It is far from quick and easy.
It takes time and courage and a lot of energy and social support, and we will probably never be “perfect” at it. Fortunately for us flawed human beings, perfection isn’t necessary.
What has to change in order to combat this problem?
You may not like my answer.
The liars will continue to lie because there’s money to be made in promising quick-and-easy solutions. And we can’t do anything about that.
But we can change our own consumer behavior and stop rewarding the liars with our money. We can stop believing in weight-loss miracle cures and accept that lifestyle change is difficult. We can talk to our friends who are still buying every fad diet book, pill, and program around.
Once we do these things, we can take back our power—the power we have to meet life’s big challenges and make steady, gradual progress toward our goals.
The truth is, we don’t need miracles.
If we help one another—with support, encouragement, and the truth—we can transform our lives as we transform our bodies.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree with everything you say here but am not optimistic. Directionality, in the little picture, is not in our favor. And that may be where most of us fighting the good fight get it wrong. We want a change for the masses and we want it soon. We want a healthier world now. I’m not so sure we’ll see it in my lifetime.
But what I do consider is that the direction of obesity, diabetes and other health related problems may be on the same time scale, and directional curve as the abolishment of slavery and civil rights. These are battles that took years. In the case of civil rights for the ancestors of slaves, the battle still carries on. Perhaps my descendants will live in a healthier world, even if I don’t.
Twitter: themusclediva
December 6, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Hi, Roy–thanks for commenting.
No question that obesity is an extremely tough problem to solve. Our food environment is inherently problematic (Greg Critser’s fabulous book Fat Land discusses this in detail), and that alone stacks the deck against the person who wants to make permanent lifestyle changes.
I agree with you that there can be no quick fix. We’re going to have to commit significant resources as a society–with the same vigor we showed during World War II.
But I believe in human potential. Those who are highly motivated will make positive changes even in a toxic food environment. The tragedy is that many who are less motivated and have fewer advantages (social environment, income, education level) will continue to bear the brunt of the obesity crisis.
You know it’s funny, with all books and documentaries that are so much in vogue today, King Corn, Omnivore’s Dilemma, etc., Fat Land has always stood out for me. I still buy and give out probably 10 copies a year. You’re the first blogger I have ever seen reference it
Twitter: themusclediva
December 17, 2011 at 9:18 pm
Good for you—what a great book! I borrowed it from the library when I read it, but I really need my own copy.
Hi Mary, I agree that the problem in the weight loss industry are the lies and deception. The goal should be to offer valued solutions, client testimonials and most importantly DO NOT over promise. State the facts and we shall be fine. In the las vegas weight loss community, I have worked hands on with HCG weight loss methods and have seen great success and plenty of testimonials.
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Twitter: themusclediva
December 6, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Rene, thanks for visiting and commenting.
I for my part am delighted that the FDA is cracking down on the HCG diet, which subjects dieters to near-starvation. Of course there is initial “success.” Anybody will lose “weight” (water, fat, and yes, muscle) on a starvation regime. Does this kind of an extreme diet teach people how to eat for a lifetime? By no means.
Recent studies have shown that dieters who follow “very low calorie” diets (medical jargon for 400- to 800-calorie-a-day plans) show negative hormonal responses as much as a year later. Their levels of leptin have decreased and levels of ghrelin have increased, which stimulates appetite and leaves them prone to weight regain.
I’ve written about this study here.
Twitter: saraharrow
December 16, 2011 at 5:32 pm
I think some of the time Mary we need to believe the lie so we don’t feel a failure. Then we get into a cycle of self-denial – the diet IS good for us, it’s just us not doing something right and of course that leads to more negative feelings surrounding our food.
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Twitter: themusclediva
December 17, 2011 at 9:20 pm
Hey, Sarah–
Thanks for commenting.
What I worry about is that people are taught to have unrealistic expectations. See enough ads promising you’ll burn “30 pounds in 30 days,” and you start to believe it. Then when you begin your healthy diet and lose maybe one to two pounds a week, you think you’re doing something wrong. In fact, that’s a healthy and sustainable rate of fat loss.