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Dr. Bernstein Diet |
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Introduction & Overview |
The Dr. Bernstein Diet is a “medically-supervised” weight loss program that claims to provide “dramatic results in a short period of time.” The program asserts that consumers can “expect to lose 4 to 5 pounds per week.” This weight loss apparently is achieved “easily” and “without exercise.” The secret, apparently, is a mysterious skill possessed by the doctors on staff at this program’s clinics: “We can stimulate the body to break down fat faster than normal - thus releasing stored energy and food value.”
Upon initially reading of this diet program, we applauded its medical approach to weight loss. In our view, obesity is a potential medical problem, carrying with it added risk of diabetes, heart disease and even certain cancers. However, we were very surprised – and disturbed – to read this program’s boasts of weight loss that is “dramatic” and “easy” with “no exercise.” Attitudes such as these tend to accompany sleazy “fad” diets, and would seem to have no place in a reputable medical establishment. In addition, this program’s claim of weight loss of up to “5 pounds per week” runs counter to the guidelines of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which recommends 2 pounds of weight loss per week We will evaluate this product for its supposed “medical” approach, focusing on whether its philosophy is in line with responsible, accepted scientific thinking.
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| Pros |
• Website includes some recipes
• Before-and-after pictures included
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| Cons |
• Program seems very dismissive of exercise
• Website claims that rapid weight loss is “very healthy”
• Consumers report being “kicked out” of program for gaining weight
• Claims of “quick, easy” weight loss seem somewhat irresponsible
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| Concept |
This program claims to consist of “a unique combination of low calorie diet (regular grocery store foods), behavior modification, education and vitamin and mineral supplements.” Apparently, these supplements are given as injections, because “Injecting vitamins bypasses the intestinal tract and results in a higher concentration in the fat cells.” The calorie counts of this diet seem to go as low as 800 calories, although many experts feel this is unhealthy. The diet seems to consist of very restricted intake, with no real focus on exercise.
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| Website |
On the Website, we were stunned to read of Dr. Bernstein’s arguments against exercise as part of a weight loss program. On the Website’s “Frequently Asked Questions” section, it is stated that “Dr. Bernstein's program does not require exercise in order to be successful.” The site goes on to assert, “There are roughly 3,500 calories in a pound of fat, and the average person burns up about 400 calories in an hour of moderate exercise on a treadmill. It would take that person over 8 hours of exercise to burn off just 1 pound of fat. This is not very effective for weight loss.” What this argument blatantly overlooks is that cardiovascular exercise tends to boost the body’s metabolism throughout the day, not just during the workout In our opinion, this statement suggests a level of ignorance that we find shocking in a medical professional.
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| Customer Feedback |
Some consumers who have successfully lost weight on this program report being “turned away” by Dr. Bernstein after the weight was subsequently regained. One individual discussed her mother’s experience after she regained 10 pounds on vacation: “She returned to the clinic only to promptly get KICKED OUT by Dr. Bernstein himself because of the weight gain. She is devastated. I just don’t understand how they could do this to my mom, it seems as though he cares more about his reputation then he does about the people in his program.”
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| Conclusion |
There are many factors about this plan that we find disturbing, irresponsible and even unethical. For a diet plan supposedly geared toward the health of the dieter, its bizarre attitude on exercise and its reported lack of compassion make it highly questionable to us.
Rather than starving themselves in such a way that weight is regained on vacation, consumers might wish instead to adopt a reasonable diet and exercise. These efforts can be further enhanced through herbal supplements containing metabolism boosters like the popular Advantra-Z®. Some of the better manufacturers, rather than turning consumers away, offer free trials of their formulations.
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