Weight loss programs
have become very popular in Kenya over the past 5 years. This has probably been
informed by the unfortunate drastic increase in Non-Communicable Diseases like
Cancer, Diabetes and Heart Diseases. As a Nutritionist I feel frustrated every time
I watch some weight loss programs, especially those that entice people with
money for most cumulative weight loss over the program period.
I often feel sorry for people who go to these programs
without in-depth knowledge of how the body works and how one gains or loses
weight. It’s a big shame for any trained and licensed Nutritionist and Fitness
expert to show the entire nation weight loss or gain progress in terms of the
total amount of weight a person has. That said; if you use the common weighing
scale to monitor your weight loss progress that only shows a cumulative number,
brace yourself for unnecessary stress and disappointment.
The one thing that most fitness experts and Nutritionists don’t
tell you is the fact that your cumulative weight is a combination of different
weights in your body. There’s water mass, muscle mass, bone mass and fat mass. All
these weights contribute to the value you read on weighing scale and their
increase or decrease consequently affect your total weight.
Have you ever measured your weight after a hot day out in the
sun, then after taking a few glasses of water? Your
weight will be less on a hot day, due to dehydration and heavy perspiration, then
increase after taking a couple of drinks, due to increase in water mass. Your weight
fluctuates from time to time due to such very normal body processes.
I therefore always advice people to join a Fat Loss Program as opposed to Weight Loss program. Fat loss is a
gradual but very effective process of proper weight management and achieving
optimal health. Weight loss can however be very drastic and not necessarily healthy.
Have you ever had diarrhea and or vomiting for a day or two? You inevitably
lose weight, but not for the right reasons; and as you already know by now, the
weight is gained back once you’re back to good health.
Healthy weight monitoring calls for better assessment, which
goes beyond a cumulative number or Body Mass Index (BMI). There’s need to
assess all the weights within the body, so as to figure out which one is above
the normal figures. Each person has a healthy range of body fat mass, muscle
mass, water mass and bone mass depending on age, gender and height. If the
figures go above or below the healthy range, then there’s cause for alarm and immediate
action, but if the figures are in the normal range, then the goal is to
maintain them in the ‘healthy’ range.
That said; I feel that most weight loss programs in the
country are simply bogus; they don’t properly guide Kenyans and are not as
objective as they should be. Each person’s body works differently and different
people have different Basal Metabolic Rates. A thorough analysis and evaluation
is therefore required before and during the entire program.
Lastly, there are many reasons why a person could be very
active, not over eating but gaining weight. One of these reasons is Hormonal Imbalance, especially among
women. We will discuss this on another article but ladies, if you’re on a
healthy diet, not eating more than you’re spending, working out but still
gaining weight, you need to consult an endocrinologist/OBGYN for a hormonal
balance evaluation.
Remember Your Health is Your Responsibility. Always do research
and make thorough enquiries before joining a weight loss program.
