From fat-burning supplements to detox programmes and diet books, it is difficult to know what works and what doesn’t because there is so much conflicting information out there.

When buying a new television set, sound system or laptop, it seems to come naturally to us to shop around, check prices, assess features and specifications and question retailers.

The art of shopping around ensures we get the best value for the money we’re willing to spend. But just like electronics and computer equipment, the exercise and wellness industries have quite a wide range of product options too.

Our specifications are a little harder to decipher, and the end results a little harder to predict, but today I will attempt to paint a clearer picture, a catalogue if you will.

We will examine perhaps the biggest product of all: weight loss. Indeed, we’ll go a step further than that and not just look at losing weight, but losing it and keeping it off, permanently.

This is a goal shared by, literally, millions of people all over the Western world. Since so many people want to lose weight, in business terms this could be said to be a huge market. Wherever there is demand for pretty much anything in this enterprising and business-oriented society we live in, those who are more than happy to attempt to satisfy it for a tidy profit, will follow.

In Malta, we are perhaps even more exposed to the weight-loss industry than anywhere else in Europe.

To date, we officially have the fattest women in Europe and the second fattest men. These are terrible statistics indeed, and all this in a country with one of the more pleasant climates in Europe.

We have a strong beach culture and are only partially clothed for a significant portion of the year. In short, we have among the worst bodies in Europe, and we are among the ones who display them the most.

If you look at the volume of fashionable retail outlets, hair salons and beauty salons on the island, it is clear that Maltese people do care about what they look like, so it is only fair to assume that there is a strong demand for weight-loss products too.

Unfortunately however, the statistics are not getting any better. Our children have been among the most obese in the world for nearly 10 years now and we’re still not seeing any improvements.

Something seems amiss. Are we buying the wrong products?

Healthy, permanent weight loss doesn’t come from anything or anybody else; it has to come from you

From fat-burning supplements to detox programmes and diet books, it is difficult to know what works and what doesn’t because there is so much conflicting information out there. If a diet book is released and becomes a bestseller, then the theories contained in it will become known by millions regardless of whether they are good for us or not.

Popularity and the ability to generate profit supersede effectiveness and true value when it comes to the development or introduction of new products. This is a simple fact of life in any capitalist society, and the weight-loss industry is no different.

We will rush out and buy almost any pill or potion if we think it will help us lose weight in exchange for little or no effort. When it turns out the latest secret herb isn’t all it was hyped up to be, then we shrug our shoulders and just wait for the next miracle promise to come along; never mind the rain forests and natural resources that were ravaged in the production process, but that’s another story.

It’s not just pills and potions either. Joining gyms or hiring personal trainers aren’t necessarily the best options either. Confused? Don’t worry, we’re about to clear a few things up.

The first thing to be borne in mind is this: healthy, permanent weight loss doesn’t come from anything or anybody else; it has to come from you. The first step is to take responsibility for your goal and not rely too heavily on anybody or anything else to do it for you.

The next crucial concept is permanence. If you want permanent results, then you need a permanent solution, so this pretty much rules out quick fixes.

Always ask the question: Could I keep this up indefinitely? If the answer is no, then the results will not be permanent. It is about lifestyle change, not fast-track programmes or diets.

Permanent changes to your routine will lead to permanent changes to your body. If you can keep it up, far greater rewards await you.

If the weight-loss product you are considering is passing our test so far, here are some factors to look out for: losing vast amounts of weight quickly without necessarily exercising or changing eating habits and following diets that allow unlimited consumption of specific foods and/or involve special food combinations. Such ideas, as yet, simply lack credible and impartial scientific evidence or support.

While we are on the subject of dietary trends, also beware of eliminating entire food groups from your diet.

According to the ‘eatwell’ plate adopted by UK authorities, there are four major groups: the bread, potato, pasta and cereal group; the fruit and vegetable group; the meat, fish, eggs, nuts, beans and seeds group; and the milk and dairy group.

The group that popular diets normally target for omission is the first, consisting of high carbohydrate starchy foods.

When consumed in moderation, wholegrain and wholemeal versions of these foods are healthy, non-fattening sources of essential energy the body needs to function effectively, particularly if you are physically active.

matthew.muscat.inglott@mcast.edu.mt