by Melissa Langone

Created on: April 18, 2008   Last Updated: August 08, 2008

Over the past several years, many programs have been started that claim to provide medically supervised weight loss. There are typically three methods used in these programs that include an injection, a pill, and extreme calorie restriction. Some of the first programs that were developed involved the injection of the pregnancy hormone, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). However, many people were apprehensive about being injected with this hormone, especially men.

Now, most of these companies promote the injection of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12, also known as cobalmin or cobalamin, is one of the water soluble vitamins. Like all of the B vitamins, it allows you to use the energy that you obtain from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Because of this, you may feel like you have more energy, but the B12 injections are not causing weight loss. There are no scientific studies that show that B12 causes a decrease in weight.

What is amazing about these new programs is that everyone becomes so concerned about the injections they are receiving. They will look up information about the injection and completely forget about the pill they are taking. When B12 is researched, they will find that it has minimal side effects. The body filters excesses of the water soluble vitamins through the kidneys. So, as long as kidney function is normal, excesses of most of the B vitamin do not cause major problems.

The pills are the problem with these diets. The pills are typically amphetamine derivatives (speed) or phentermine, which can cause negative effects on the cardiovascular system and can be addictive. The pills are what enable people to follow the extreme calorie restriction without feeling hungry. This is the reason that the programs must be medically supervised, although from what I have been told, most people never see the doctor after the first time they visit the facility.

Most of these programs tell participants to follow a 500-800 calorie per day diet. If someone were to choose all nutrient dense foods, the minimum they would need to sustain their health is 1200 calories per day. Due to the pills and the extreme calorie restriction, weight loss will occur rapidly. However, you cannot stay on the pills for more that a few months. When you stop taking the pills, the weight will come right back.

These plans do not deal with the problems that have lead to overeating and are extremely expensive. If you ask the facility if their program is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, they will tell you that it is not. Then you can ask if they have published articles from peer-reviewed journals that show that the program is effective. Peer-reviewed means that other researchers have examined a study's methods to make sure they are fair and unbiased. They will not be able to provide you with this because there are no such articles.

The purpose behind losing weight should be the improvement of health, including decreasing the risk for conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and arthritis. These types of programs are the antithesis of health improvement. Learning to choose the right foods and incorporating physical activity into your daily routine is the ideal way to lose weight and improve your health.

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