The Indian market is flooded with numerous weight loss programs. All programs promise to make us slim! On the other hand, despite so many promises, obesity, obstinately is on the rise! Therefore, the key question is, why do most of the weight loss programs fail?

Most of the weight loss plans are drastic, leave people hungry and unsatiated. Lifestyle of a common officegoers / businessperson, in today’s world, is completely sedentary! There is barely any physical activity, but food intake is disproportionately higher than what is required! So, people are evidently becoming overweight and even gradually moving towards obesity. They frequently sign up for a ‘weight loss programs’. And the programs abruptly put them to a ‘hard to follow’ schedules! A 3- hour activity per day, coupled with a strict diet! People take up the challenge, adhere to it for a day, two days, three days... Then start slackening, and finally give up in a week or so! The rebound effect is more serious when people start gobbling uncontrollably! This happens most frequently and repeatedly to a large set of ‘weight loss aspirants’. Moral: Stricter the program, lesser the adherents. Sudden strictness seldom works!

The answer lies in a weight loss program with a right balance. Physical exercise is meant to spend energy. This must be coupled with a reduction in energy intake simultaneously, both monitored and controlled. That’s how a negative energy balance is created to lose weight! For example, it is like ‘burning of a candle at both the ends’. A perfect weight loss program should thus include healthy eating habits, lowest possible carbohydrates with increased protein and is aimed at reducing one’s appetite, stimulating a faster weight loss, and improving metabolic health. All at the same time!

Weight loss requirements differ from person to person. While a loss of a half kilo to one kilo per week is ideal, there may be someone who needs to lose more. For example, someone is advised for an operation, but is excess on body weight and having a compromised heart. The doctor targets a month to reduce body weight fast. Or if the same individual is marginally overweight, no risk to go for slow and gradual weight loss. Thus, there are different types of weight loss objectives. No single program can work for all. It must be customized!

That brings us to the need for a ‘Regimen’, a scheduled routine of treatment, designed for every individual. It is the most reasonable solution with high chances of success! A ‘Regimen’ is a scientific mix of energy expenditure plan along with a reduction of energy or food intake (without increasing the ‘craving for food’). It is based on the individual life situation and administered gradually. In some cases, dosage is initiated slowly, and the vigor is increased gradually. In other cases, it may begin aggressively and then reduced gradually to make it easy.