“Body wraps” have been around for ages in the weight loss and
spa industry. Claims include loss of body weight, loss of body fat, and loss of
inches. Infomercials for rubber “waist belts” are also back on TV and similar
claims are made for these types of wraps as well. What few people realize is
that there is a huge difference between losing fat and losing inches. When your
body fat decreases, your circumference measurements will usually also decrease,
but “fat” loss and “inch” loss are not one in the same. If you don’t know how to
tell the difference, you could be falling for one of the oldest, most notorious
fitness and weight loss scams in the book.
The truth is, body wraps and waist belts do not shrink fat cells or burn body
fat – no matter what type of wrap is used: bandages, plastic, foil, vinyl, or
rubber, and regardless of what you are wrapped in: herbs, minerals, enzymes,
seaweed, clay, or mud. Fat can only be lost with a caloric deficit from a
reduction in food intake, an increase in activity or ideally, a combination of
both.
Whenever you see fat loss claims for wraps or any other product which doesn’t
involve a caloric deficit created through nutrition or exercise, the “scam
alarm” should go off in your head, and you should always stay away, no matter
how compelling the sales pitch.
Furthermore, the companies making fat loss claims would be in hot water with the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) if they were investigated and caught because
claims for body fat reduction from wraps cannot be supported with scientific
evidence.
The FTC as well as numerous state attorney general’s offices have already taken
action against body wrap companies in the past for false advertising and
unsupported claims. Some companies simply had to stop making false claims,
others had to pay stiff fines as well. The problem, from a legal and ethical
standpoint, is the claim being made. Remember, “inches” and “fat” are not the
same thing.
Some types of wraps can definitely take off inches (for example, they might
reduce the circumference measurement of your waist, hips, arms and legs), but
it’s not fat, its water weight and fluid, and the results are temporary.
Suppose this claim is made in an advertisement:
* Lose Up To 15 inches in 1 Hour! *
This is legal advertising because the claim “lose inches” might be supportable
(if enough circumference measurements are taken with a tape measure at enough
sites, that might add up to a total of 15 inches in circumference loss)
However I believe that these types of claims are misleading (and probably
intentionally so), because “inches” is not the same as body fat but the product
vendors know that you might easily confuse “inches” with “fat.”
Contrast that claim with this one:
* Lose Body Fat without diet or exercise in 1 Hour!*
That claim is totally false and scientifically unsupportable.
Again, body wraps cannot burn fat or “shrink fat cells.”
If fat loss could be achieved with body wraps, it would be very easy to test and
prove.
Body composition (body fat) testing (rather than measurements of inches) could
be performed before and after the wrap, and the answer (“does it work”) would
become easily exposed.
Since it doesn’t work, you won’t find any wrap people accepting your challenge
to allow you to do independent body composition testing, nor will you find a
shred of scientific evidence showing reduction of bodyfat from wraps.
Unfortunately, bogus fat loss claims are still quite widespread, as a simple
Internet search for “body wrap” will demonstrate. The most frequently used
claims however, are for loss of “inches.”
The inches lost simply come from loss of fluid. And guess what – those inches
(and or water weight) will come right back in days if not hours, as soon as you
completely re-hydrate yourself.
Other claims made for body wraps include detoxification, improved circulation
and tighter, smoother and clearer skin. Most health and fitness researchers, as
well as government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will
tell you that these claims are “debatable” and mostly anecdotal.
Some experts even warn that certain types of wraps can be dangerous, mainly due
to the rapid and excessive fluid loss/dehydration.
If you want to get wrapped because you find it relaxing or you consider it a
“spa-like” treatment, that’s one thing. Just remember, wraps have absolutely
nothing to do with fat loss.
I’d suggest completely avoiding any companies that advertise fat loss when it’s
only water and inches you’re losing, because a dishonest company is one you
don’t want to patronize at all.
One last thing – this is a timely subject because although “body wraps” have
been around for ages and it’s old news, I noticed that infomercials for “waist
belts” or “sauna wraps” are back on TV in force and I see that they are
replaying the ads over and over again, which means people are buying it.
Everything I just said about body wraps also applies to those rubber waist belts
too.
On a web search I just did for those rubber belt waist wraps, I noticed some of
the websites are STILL making claims like “Melt fat” (totally bogus, unsupported
and illegal claim).
Other sites seem to be wary of the FTC paying them a visit, so they do a whole
song and dance around the legal issues by saying stuff like, “sweat away
inches,” “therapeutic heat”, “target your problem areas” and so on. Even if
these claims are not illegal, the promotions are still deceptive…
The professional fitness model is pictured taking off the rubber belt, revealing
ripped six pack abs below… as if those abs are a result of wearing the belt!
Wishful thinking! These are professional models, folks. They got the abs the
same way everyone else with abs got them – with a calorie deficit from a
combination of strict diet and hard training!
Wraps and waist belt products might take off some inches or water weight, but
they can’t take off a single ounce of fat. Buyer beware
RESOURCE BOX: Tom Venuto is a natural bodybuilder, certified strength coach
(CSCS) and author of “Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle,” which teaches you how to
get lean without drugs or supplements using secrets of the world’s best
bodybuilders and fitness models. Learn how to get rid of stubborn fat and
turbo-charge your metabolism by visiting: http://www.burnthefat.com .
[tags]Body Wraps, Waist Wraps, Weight loss[/tags]