Weight Loss : Fact vs Fiction

important? As we have seen previously, these two factors are not mutually exclusive, which is why no distinct answer can be given in response.

By Anagha Sreeram, Year 10 North London Collegiate

In the UK, the weight loss industry is worth over 2 billion pounds, with more people aiming to lose weight each year. In fact, last year 48% people who made new year’s resolutions said that their resolution was to lose weight. While some people aim to lose weight to avoid medical illnesses such as type-2 diabetes and heart diseases, many do so due to low body confidence. 1 in 5 adults in the UK lack this confidence and girls as young as five are conscious about this. Unfortunately, there are many fraudulent companies which take advantage of the craving of a ‘miracle’ solution, slimming nothing 15

but people’s bank balances. This article will discuss how certain companies take advantage of this lack of confidence, why some people must lose weight and the healthiest way to do so.

Why do people want to lose weight? Many aim to do so for avoiding vulnerability to diseases, while many do so for acceptance into society. An example of the former is to avoid heart disease. Cholesterol is a fatty plaque which can be caused by the consumption of too much fatty food and can block arteries which restrict oxygenated blood flow to the heart as well as other parts of the body, known as atherosclerosis. This loss of blood circulation limits aerobic respiration, which requires oxygen, causing the build up of lactic acid. This is especially problematic for the heart or the depravation of oxygen, causing heart disease. However, the latter example is generally caused by influences of social media, television and stereotypes.

According to the NHS, the best way to lose weight is to eat regular, healthy meals with plenty of water and minimal alcohol, as well as regular exercise. Note that all of this can be done with no special pills or medication and nothing extra needs to be bought in order to achieve this. Moreover, it is also interesting how no ‘genuine reviews’ are needed to prove this, and no significant weight loss goals are promoted- this is just a way to stay healthy, no matter what body size or condition, and comes with the benefit of losing weight.