I have heard that when tablets containing cider vinegar, kelp, vitamin B6 and lecithin are taken along with a sensible diet and no extra exercise, you lose weight fast—12 lb in two weeks. Is this true?
There is no easy way to lose weight, and anyone who believes in the above formula will also believe in the tooth fairy and Easter bunny!
There is a simple (but not easy) way to lose weight—eat less and exercise more. This method has the great advantage of being not only effective, but cheap! Millions of dollars are spent by Australians every year on special diets, magic formulas, ‘guaranteed’ tablets, patent mixtures, acupuncture, hypnotherapy and quack remedies in order to lose weight. None of these are more effective than the simple formula of eat less and exercise more; all are more expensive, some may be harmful, and none work long term.
Being overweight is not a crime, although women’s magazines make it seem to be, as all have diets of some type or other. You do not have to look like Princess Diana to be acceptable in society. There are no medical risks in being up to 20% greater than average weight for your height, age and sex. Only over 40% greater than average weight do medical risks become significant.
The most important factor in your weight is your choice in parents, followed by your diet and exercise levels.
Many fat people should accept their weight, avoid gaining any more, and not damage their health by yo-yoing up and down by ten kilos every few months as they go on and off diets. This is more damaging to health than staying overweight.
If you plan to lose weight, start on a sensible diet that you can maintain for years to come, exercise regularly, and certainly do not try to lose 12 lb in two weeks!

I have been told to exercise to lose weight. Is jogging the best form of exercise?
No. The most effective forms of exercise, that work all the major muscle groups with minimal risk of stress injury, are swimming, gymnastics and cycling.
Swimming is without doubt the ideal exercise, as there is no stress on the support structures of the body, while every muscle is being worked. Group activities such as gymnastics (or variations of this such as aerobics) tend to give more encouragement to exercise, and are less boring than endlessly pacing around a grass oval by yourself. Cycling does not cause foot and leg stress, and the scenery changes rather more rapidly than in jogging.
Any form of exercise is better than none in an attempt to lose weight, but jogging has several disadvantages. It tends to cause leg and foot injuries, particularly if running on a hard surface; there are dangers in jogging on roads; and only the lower half of the body receives adequate work. Those who do like jogging should ensure that it is done on a grass surface in good quality shoes, and where there are no traffic hazards.

I am a thirteen year old girl, 164 cm tall and weigh 55 kg. I feel fat because I have fat legs. Am I overweight? What is the average weight for a girl my age?
The average weight for someone of your age and height is 47 to 51 kg, so you are a little overweight statistically. It would be equally important for me to know your degree of maturity.
Girls at thirteen can still be flat chested and have no sign of changing into a woman, or they may be well developed and appear to be a grown woman. Those with a woman’s figure will weigh more than those who are still girls.
Almost certainly you will grow taller in the next year, so the sensible thing to do is to watch your diet, get some exercise and make sure that you do not put on any more weight, and let your height slowly increase. You will grow up into your present weight, and thin out as a result. Losing weight is NOT a good idea at your age unless you are grossly obese.