Y weight control

While pills promise to burn fat, suppress the appetite and get you skinny over short periods, WentzelViljoen stresses that the professional board does not support them.

“A healthy, balanced diet remains the answer. People must consult a registered dietician or medical practitioner who will design a balanced, healthy diet for weight loss.”

Lynch urges people to stay away from all pills, even those claiming to be natural supplements.

All that is needed for sustainable weight loss is the combination of dietary restriction and an exercise plan, says Lynch.

“As soon as you take a pill which claims it burns fat or increases your metabolism, you slow the body’s own mechanisms down. So when you stop the pills, you often gain more weight than you started with,” says Lynch. The bad news is that a quick-fix solution doesn’t exist. “The healthiest way is the proper way,” says Lynch. She advises people to eat the right foods, make time for daily exercise sessions and set realistic targets. And to women who complain that they simply don’t have the time to eat properly or exercise, Lynch says planning is key.

“The only way to fix this problem is to be organised. Planning is the first step in any healthy eating or weight loss programme. Meal and snack planning is important – because eating the wrong snacks between your meals can also negatively affect your weight loss goals.”