Media Bias, Conflicts of Interest Distort Study Findings on Supplements

News media spinning out of control

Recent reporting of scientific studies completely misses the mark, says Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements author Lyle MacWilliam. Not only are journalists misunderstanding the results of many new studies, he says, but they are being pointed in the wrong direction by pharmaceutical giants with patented products that are threatened by natural health alternatives to the drugs they peddle.

The issue is much deeper than a simple misunderstanding of scientific processes. Studies are being completely misrepresented, deluding the public into believing that the herbal and micronutrient treatments they believe will help them are actually harming them, or even just a waste of their time. But is that true?

Probably not. The vast majority of news reports about the dangers and inefficacy of supplements are based on misunderstandings of the results or even complete denial of the results.

READ MORE by Lyle MacWilliam MSc FP

by Lyle MacWilliam, MSc, FP

Meal replacements effective as medications for weight maintenance

The most difficult part of any weight loss program is not losing the weight, but keeping it off. As a result, many people opt for medications to help maintain weight loss. Results from a new study now show that meal replacement drinks can be as effective as medications at helping dieters maintain weight. Researchers compared the benefit of using meal replacement drinks to Orlistat in two groups of people that had lost significant amounts of weight. A year after their weight loss, the group using meal replacement drinks had maintained their weight even better than the group using the medication. For many people, meal replacements drinks may be an effective, simple and safe method to maintaining a healthy weight.

Meal replacement drinks were recently shown to be as effective as medications for maintaining weight loss according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. In this study, participants followed a very low calorie liquid diet (VLCD) for 12 weeks followed by 4 weeks of re-introduction to solid food. Then the subjects were randomly selected to receive either meal replacements or Orlistat (a medication that blocks fat absorption in the intestines), both combined with a structured meal plan calculated to maintain weight loss. For one year, all subjects followed a weight management program that included topics such as lifestyle, physical activity, and nutrition. During weight maintenance, there were no significant differences in physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake and pedometer steps between the groups. After one year, the meal replacement group had regained only 5.9 lbs while the Orlistat group had regained 6.2 lbs. Meal replacements and Orlistat were both effective in maintaining weight significantly below baseline levels over a year period of time. However, the group using meal replacement drinks maintained their weight even better than the group using the medication without the side effects. For many people, meal replacements drinks may be an effective, simple and safe method to maintaining a healthy weight.

Source: A Comparison of Meal Replacements and Medication in Weight Maintenance after Weight Loss, James D. LeCheminant, Dennis J. Jacobsen, Matthew A. Hall and Joseph E. Donnelly, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 24, No. 5, 347-353 (2005)

Boxer Jose Rivera wins welterweight title again

Professional Boxer and USANA Associate Jose Antonio Rivera fought for a second super welterweight title on Saturday, May 6. Jose did not disappoint. He impressed fans and fellow Associates alike by winning again! 33-year-old Jose wowed the fans with his incredible physical strength and skill as he pummeled his 22-year-old opponent, Alejandro Garcia.

Rivera has been through vigorous training and nutritional changes to prepare him for this fight. Part of his nutritional changes included implementing USANA supplements into his regimen.

Reporter Bud Barth explains, "........Rivera made other changes too…. He replaced longtime trainer Luis “Chico” Lopez with former Hartford cruiserweight John Scully, added a new personal trainer (Radovan Serbula of Boston), and expanded his nutrition program to include USANA, which Rivera credits with bolstering his energy, recovery time, and overall health."*

Congratulations Jose! Jose is actively building his USANA business and we are proud to support him as one of our professional athletes!

*Taken from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

Releasing Fat, Healthy for Life by Dr. Ray Strand

Health and Freedom presentation (10 minutes)

View the Health & Freedom online presentation here.