Save the Strife with Metabolife? You Decide...
In an age of fast, convenient, and effective (hopefully) solutions to life's major and minuscule dilemmas, it is no wonder that weight management solutions, such as Metabolife 356, keep up in the fast lane of Internet inventions, zappable meals (microwave), and cooler cars. According to nutrition experts, at any one time approximately 25% of men and 45% of women are trying to lose weight and Americans spend more than $33 billion per year on weight control products and services while the obesity rate continues to climb(1). The result? You, the consumer, must keep asking the same to make decisions right for you: does it work, is it safe, and will it really solve the problem?
The Metabolife Detective
According to the company, Metabolife 356 will "increase metabolism, decrease appetite, and burn fat, without additional exercise or dieting". Could it be true? Hmmm....On the other side of the weight loss map, you may already know (from the experts) that:
"Weight management is defined as the adoption of healthful and sustainable eating and exercise behaviors indicated for reduced disease risk and improved feelings of energy and well-being. All weight management programs should at the very least include training in lifestyle modification with the following goals: (a) gradual change to a healthful eating style with increased intake of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables; (b) a nonrestrictive approach to eating based on internal regulation of food (hunger and satiety); and (c) gradual increase to at least 30 minutes of enjoyable physical activity each day." 1.
Is Metabolife part of this journey? Maybe, maybe not, but the bottom line is you, the consumer, are ultimately responsible to decide your best itinerary. Get out your road map and consider these key questions before you chart your personal weight loss course:
Q: Does the product encourage a healthy lifestyle to support sustained weight loss?
A: If it does not, the weight loss may only last as long as the pill box.
Q: Does the product promise a quick fix?
A: If it does, you may lose fast water weight (and perhaps lean muscle mass), but fat usually sticks around until you 'earn' it off. (reasonable exercise and diet combination)
Q. Is the product supported by mainstream scientific community?
A: If licensed professionals (Registered Dietitians) don't encourage it, and research is scarce in backing its claims, you are on your own.
Q. Are you familiar with the ingredients (assuming they are listed) and how they work in your body?
A. Your best bet with supplement and/or herbal ingredients is knowing the latest in scientific discoveries, but there is more truth 'out there' than in the hands of mainstream science. Stimulants, such as Ma Huang, Kola, and Ginseng, will only suppress appetite and speed up your heart rate. Forget the afternoon nap! And, for some people, side-effects can be dangerous.
Q. Are there drug or nutrient interaction risks with any of the ingredients?
A. Even if you know of them, you still never know the exact quantities (even if listed on the label) of active ingredients. In addition, many interactions remain unknown.
Metabolife has several ingredients that are stimulants (Ma Huang, Ginseng, Gotu Kola, possibly the "Proprietary Blend") and may suppress appetite, increase heart rate, and possibly increase blood pressure. The result? Possibly water weight loss, some lean mass loss, and possibly sleepless nights.
But Is Metabolife for You?
While debate fans the fire of any supplement use, there are many 'truths' in the nutrition world, and some important factors to consider (in conjunction with a Registered Dietitan, ideally) prior to turning to supplements:
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1.
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What is the history of your weight gain? Is it genetic (you have been overweight all your life) or episodic (you have been through a life trauma and eat more emotionally now and may need psychotherapy (counseling)? Either way, Metabolife probably won't solve the problem because it can't change your basic make-up. |
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Have you recently started new medication or received a new diagnosis that could cause weight gain? If so, Metabolife may not help you combat the weight gain and may even pose more of a problem. |
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Has your activity level declined recently (or is it nonexistent)? No exercise = poor health and little to no long-term weight loss. Period. |
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Do you have a history of weight cycling (multiple diets and weight fluctuations)? If yes, welcome back on the roller coaster - you are in for a ride, as Metabolife may help shed fast pounds, but you may gain it back after the pills are gone. |
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Are you upset with life circumstances and hoping to control your weight since you can't control other discomforts (i.e., you feel if you lose weight it will "fix" the problem and you will feel better)? If yes, it may help to make an appointment for counseling. |
Tough questions? You bet, and you may wonder — is it EVER appropriate to use a supplement to lose weight? Experts share many opinions, and certainly Metabolife resides in those same debates. The truth is, clinical experts in weight management would draw the conclusion that this product is not worth the multiple risks: financial, health, and high likelihood of another weight management failure. Top it off with lack of documentation on long-term effects of using herbs, and poor (or absent) manufacturing standards, and you are on a journey to who-knows-where. Finally, if you are in the high risk category of pregnancy (fetus included), lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, liver disease, HIV, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or allergies — avoid Metabolife.
The best bet for anyone is to seek the assistance of a Registered Dietitian for nutrition planning, begin an exercise program (with the OK from your doctor), enjoy the journey, and give yourself a break.
Addendum:
The magic formula is not completely available to consumers, but some > ingredients are disclosed as follows:
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Metabolife
356T
Stimulant, weight control, decongenstant
Bee Pollen Ginseng (root) Ginger (root) Lechithin Bovine Complex Damiana (leaf) Sasparilla (root) Golden Seal (aerial part) Nettles (leaf) Gotu Kolu (aerial part) Spirulina Jelly NOTE: Other ingredients include: Methocel, Silica, Crosscarmelose Sodium , Magnesium Stearate. Note: The information contained on this page has been written for educational purposes ONLY. This information about the Metabolife 356T diet is not to replace the services of a physician. Please see your doctor for any condition which may require their services. |
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Janet Lepke
Janet Lepke, RD, CSP, CDE, LDN, is a journalist, author, and president and owner of Nutrition Network, a nutrition company in Charlotte. Lepke specializes in counseling and communications in the areas of eating disorders, weight management, and the non-diet approach to nutrition therapy.REFERENCES:
1. Cummings, S., et al.
October 20, 1996. ADA (American Dietetic Association) Position Paper: Weight
Management.
(From the position paper verbatim):
10. Pate RR, Pratt M, Blair SN, et al. Physical activity and public health: a
recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the
American College of Sports Medicine. JAMA. 1995;273:402-407.
11. Goodrick GK, Malek JN, Foreyt JP. Exercise adherence in the obese:
self-regulated intensity. Med Exer hNutr Health . 1994;3:335-338.
