Don't be The Biggest Loser !

Weight Loss Expert Warns: Do Not Become The Biggest Loser

Hamilton: Joining your company’s “Biggest Loser” competition may seem like a good idea if you want to lose weight, but one Canadian weight loss expert warns not to do it.

“Results indicate time and time again that any weight lost on these crash diet programs always comes back, and often brings more weight with it,” explains Keep Canada Slim President Lee Fairbanks. “And worse than that, crash dieting virtually guarantees that you will lose valuable muscle as well as fat, whereas you will likely only gain back fat.”

This loss of muscle combined with additional fat gain is the foundation of obesity, says Fairbanks, and leads to higher disease risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some forms of cancer.

Fairbanks quoted a recent Hamilton Spectator story on Laurel Steel’s (Burlington) annual “Biggest Loser” challenge (Big Steel Weighs In – Good diet, healthy weight – company and employees win” Jan 22, 2009) to prove his point.

“The so-called ‘winner’ two years ago went from 228 pounds to 194 pounds on the Challenge and then back up to 242 pounds,” he points out. “This rebound effect is built in to every rapid weight loss program.”

“A quote from the ‘winner’ highlights the complete disconnect from reality that diets encourage,” explains Fairbanks “He said ‘you're going out with the guys and they are all having two pounds of chicken wings and you’re there eating carrots.’ The proper solution to this situation would be to cut down from two pounds of chicken wings to one pound of chicken wings -- and then add the carrots.”

Fairbanks warns Canadians that only by committing to permanent lifestyle changes, which have nothing to do with a short-term diet, can they hope to turn the corner on obesity and start to build a healthier country.

“We need to encourage our employees and corporate wellness departments to embrace a New Year’s Resolution to promote healthy approaches to weight loss rather than supporting pop-culture entertainment vehicles which use humans as fodder for fun and games at the cost of their health,” he suggests.

Keep Canada Slim educational material is available through their website at http://www.keepcanadaslim.com/, as well as through a network of certified consultants across the country. The company also offers a free school program for Grade 3 students called the Healthy Eating Challenge. The Challenge was run in 31 Hamilton classrooms last year by Mohawk College students.

Contacts

Lee Fairbanks
President, Keep Canada Slim
905-628-0279
bigskinny@keepcanadaslim.com