The truth about spot reduction, weight loss cosmetics, and laxatives for weight loss.
Myth 3: Spot reduction is achievable.
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Women often think, "If only my face could be thinner," or "If only my arms could be thinner." Many women want to achieve partial weight loss, but unfortunately, this method of targeting only a part of the body has not yet been successful.
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Of course, some people might hold the opposite view, saying, "My friend successfully slimmed down her legs at a beauty salon." If you share this idea, here's an experiment you can try.
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After applying massage, tape, or hot compresses to the area you want to lose weight for 1-2 hours, measure the area you're overweight. You'll be surprised to find that you've actually lost a few centimeters. However, after you happily go home and have a cup of tea, you'll find that the localized weight loss you worked so hard to achieve has returned to its original state.
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The spot reduction techniques used in beauty salons work by applying pressure to localized fat tissue, causing water to be squeezed out, thus creating the impression of weight loss. However, this effect is merely a visible reduction in appearance in a specific area and does not actually result in fat loss or overall weight reduction.
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Some people believe that not drinking water can reduce the chance of gaining weight, but this is a dangerous idea. Maintaining 50% to 60% water in body weight is necessary for normal physiological function; otherwise, it will affect health and appearance.
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Some people want slimmer arms, so they diligently exercise their hands or wrists, but this doesn't help with arm slimming. Exercise has a holistic effect on fat loss, not just a targeted effect on specific areas.
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The elimination of body fat follows a certain order. Subcutaneous fat is easier to lose than visceral fat, and upper body fat is easier to lose than lower body fat. Only by using the correct dieting methods can you effectively lose weight in your arms, wrists, face, waist, etc.
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Myth 4: Cosmetics have weight loss effects.
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Advertisements often promote simple weight loss methods, such as slimming soaps and seaweed soaps, which have caused a sensation. However, whether they are ultimately effective is best known to the consumers who have used them.
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In addition, there are also products that claim to be the favorite slimming cosmetics used by famous models, but these products, like slimming soaps, lack scientific basis.
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Of course, some people will still raise counterarguments, arguing that these slimming soaps have been studied by certain universities and have proven effective on humans after more than six months of use.
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In fact, this conclusion is merely a record of subcutaneous fat measured using a fat analyzer, not a report based on the actual degree of body fat reduction. If the subjects in this experiment had adopted a diet and exercise regimen, and used regular soap, they would have achieved the same results.
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Many topical slimming cosmetics and soaps have two claims: one is that they "can penetrate the skin and break down fat."
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This claim suggests that a certain ingredient can promote the breakdown and metabolism of fat. However, the uncertainty lies in the fact that even if the ingredient does promote fat breakdown and metabolism, the exact amount broken down is very unclear. Therefore, its effectiveness in weight loss and fat reduction is highly questionable.
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However, if extremely high doses are used, the side effects on bodily functions must be carefully considered. Another point to consider is that even if fat can be broken down, if there is no burning process, the fat cells will be re-deposited in other parts of the body via the bloodstream without being eliminated, resulting in the same outcome.
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Another claim is that it "promotes blood circulation, increases metabolism, and accelerates fat burning." However, this effect of increasing metabolism does not actually promote fat burning. Therefore, expecting to achieve weight loss through topical cosmetics or slimming soaps is futile.
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Myth 5: Using laxatives can help you lose weight.
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Laxatives are very popular in pharmacies, especially among obese women who mistakenly believe that relieving constipation will lead to weight loss.
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Chinese tea is believed to relieve constipation and aid in weight loss when consumed regularly. This is a long-standing belief. Why is this idea prevalent? It stems from differing understandings of the definitions of obesity and being overweight.
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A person deemed overweight is often thought to have excessive body fat. However, in reality, athletes who are muscular and gain weight do not necessarily have excessive body fat; similarly, obese patients may not gain weight, but their body fat may be significantly higher than the standard.
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In fact, weight and body fat are two different things, meaning that "weight loss is not necessarily the same as losing weight".
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Laxatives promote excretion, but they also remove necessary water from the body.
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It takes 7,000 calories to lose 1 kilogram of fat, but excreting 1 kilogram of stool does not equal losing 1 kilogram of fat.
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People with habitual constipation often store 3 to 5 kilograms of stool in their gastrointestinal tract. If they excrete it, they can lose 3 to 5 kilograms. However, laxatives usually soften the stored stool to make it easier to pass.
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Therefore, if food does not contain enough water, increased excretion will cause the body to lose water as well. Water makes up 60% of the human body. If constipated individuals frequently use laxatives, causing their body water content to drop below 35%, they may experience dehydration symptoms, dry skin, low blood pressure, cerebral infarction, or mental abnormalities; in severe cases, it can lead to death.
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Japanese actress Mieko Takamine died from dehydration caused by excessive use of laxatives, which led to a cerebral embolism.
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Laxatives may cause weight loss, but this is only a superficial effect. They do not reduce body fat or change body shape. Furthermore, they reduce skin moisture, leading to dry skin, which is detrimental to beauty.
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Uncontrolled use of laxatives is very dangerous and harmful to both beauty and health. In the most serious cases, it can lead to death and should be avoided with caution.
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