Evaluating Slimming Claims

Question 1

What are the 4 things to look for to evaluate the effectiveness of slimming products/ programmes?

Answer 1

1. Is the report a scientific study published in a reputable journal?
2. Was it written by a qualified person (independent to the people selling it)?
3. Was the sample of people asked/ tested large enough to give reliable results?
4. Have there been other studies done with similar results?

Question 2

Why do claims that a celebrity has lost weight using a product not necessarily prove its effectiveness?

Answer 2

Effectiveness on one person doesn’t mean much:

Only a large survey can tell you if a diet is more/ less effective than just eating less (unhealthy stuff) and exercising more

Question 3

Diets and slimming products will only work if they make you do which 2 things?

Answer 3

1. Eat less fat or carbohydrate (so you take in less energy)
2. Do more exercise (so that you use more energy)

Question 4

Explain why the claims of a low-fat chocolate bar can be true but confusing?

Answer 4

They might be low in fat, but won’t help you lose weight as you could still be taking in too much energy