8 Shocking Facts about Diet Companies

There are 2,431 reviews of diet companies and supplements on a popular diet review site I found at the time of writing, from fat burner supplements to meal replacement plans and food exclusion protocols.

But how much science is there really behind what the most popular diet companies are recommending?

And as far as your concerned do they actually work long term? Do they not only help you lose weight but keep it off too?

I’ve come across some shocking facts and statistics recently about some big name diet companies and thought it only fair to share them with you.

Many slimming clubs collaborate with household brands to promote each other and boost sales. This isn’t to say the foods members are encouraged to eat are either ‘good’ or ‘bad’, but it demonstrates how diet clubs are there to make money first and foremost and that promoted foods are such due to financial gain rather than because they’re the ideal food for the consumer.

In 1993 the Federal Trade Commission charged that five weight loss companies, including Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem, made false and unsubstantial claims about the effectiveness of their products. Among the claims were statements that clients were typically successful in reaching their weight loss goals and that they maintained their weight loss permanently. The companies were required to add disclaimers such as ‘for many dieters, weight loss is temporary’ and ‘results not typical’ to their ad copy. A review in 2002 showed that such changes were not made.

Richard Samber, former finance director of Weight Watchers, said if a person cannot maintain the weight loss then they will keep returning to the company. “It’s successful because the other 84% have to come back and do it again. That’s where your business comes from”.

Dr Jacquie Lavin, head of nutrition at Slimming World, echos this, stating that their company has 400,000 “regularly attending members” (as in, they keep going month after month because little progress is made).

People who count calories day in day out are on average 3kg lighter than people who don’t, meaning the hassle of counting calories yields very little results for most people. This shows there is more to losing weight and maintaining heath than simply calories.

Weight Watchers attendees lose on average 2.7 kg over 2 years. Many lose more, some eve gain weight, and lots will lose more then regain it. This balances out to a pitiful 2.7 kg lost over 2 whole years on average.

The Cambridge Diet starts at just 600 calories a day, and The British Dietetic Association warns against choosing the Cambridge Diet.

Adding vitamin and mineral mixes to premade diet products such as bars and shakes does little to boost nutritional value, because the human body does not absorb added synthetic nutrients in the same way that it does with nutrients found naturally in foods.