You can fool some people all the time and all of the people some of the time. But you can't fool all of the people all the time.
Singapore and apparently the rest of the affluent 1st world countries is caught in the mire of quick fixes. Have Money - Can Fix. Many people still cannot accept that money doesn't buy everything. One of these things money can't buy is a miracle to lose fat.
Legislation in Singapore is woefully inadequate to protect the unwary consumer from claims of painless, effortless, fashionable weight (fat) loss. The law protects free enterprise as long as no medical claims are made, the law does not protect the stupid consumer. Caveat Emptor - let the buyer beware.
Gadgets do not correct the underlying problem; which is a lifetime of horrible dietary habits and sedentary lifestyle. Nature always take the path of least resistance (electric current comes to mind, river water comes to mind). In this case, the path of least effort is Eat More, Vegetate in Front of the TV, Pop a few Pills, Wear a Vibrating Belt. Is it any wonder then that these people still remain fat ?
Compare these overweight couch potatoes to the guy running in the park and working up a good sweat. Is it apparent now which lifestyle gives a slimmer you ? Ever see a fat athlete ? Well, let's not include Sumo Wrestlers or Tire Flipping Hulk Hogans.
Vibrating Belts do not work (actually if I ever figure out how to wrap the vibrating belt around my cock, I might just go out and get one !). There is no medical basis for claiming it melts off fat and gives a trimmer tummy.
Herbal Wraps do not work. Most of the weight loss in body wraps comes from sweat. The weight comes back on when you drink water. Might as well just sit in a sauna and sweat it out.
Pill Popping works for a while.
- In some pills (example Hydroxycut) the body quickly adapts to the stimulants and the thermogenic/metabolic effect wears off. Feedback from friends indicate this is about 2-3 weeks.
- In other pills (Xenical) which prevents your intestines from absorbing the oil you ingest (you pass oily shit or leak oil from your anus), the effect lasts only as long as you take it.
- Medications to manipulate your hormones, example T3 which is secreted by the thyroid gland is one of the most powerful metabolic agents in the body. Inexpert supplementation with T3 and you end up with thyroid atrophy (malfunction) and you'll have to depend on medication for the rest of your life.
- Bottom line: do you want to pop pills for the rest of your life ?
Beware the marketing hype. Often, these are based on limited laboratory trials (example, using rats) and fantastically extrapolating to the obese human being.
