(Kevin Trudeau)
The 2007 book titled The Weight Loss Cure "They" Don't Want
You to Know About, a weight loss book authored by controversial author Kevin
Trudeau, was released in April 2007 (Alliance Publishing, $24.95 list but $13.72
from Amazon). The controversial book describes a plan to change activity in the
hypothalamus gland, linked to the pituitary gland, with the intention to control
hunger and regulate fat cells, by using herbal supplements and repeated use
of the hCG hormone.
The book follows his two other bestselling but criticized books,
Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About, and More Natural
Cures Revealed; Previously Censored Brand Name Products That Cure Disease.
Weight Loss Cure has appeared on the bestseller's lists of the Wall Street
Journal, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and The New York Times.
The book's promoters make this claim: "
"The main problems that overweight people deal with are massive,
intense, constant physical hunger; food cravings and uncontrollable urges to eat
when not hungry; low metabolism; and an abnormally high amount of fat stored in
stubborn secure problem areas such as the hips, thighs, buttocks, and waist.
This "weight loss cure protocol" has been proven to be virtually 100% successful
in correcting these conditions, thus curing the individual of obesity for life!
Read the fascinating true story of how this discovery was made and, more
importantly, how this miracle weight loss breakthrough has been hidden from the
public so that drug companies can make billions of dollars selling their
expensive drug treatments and surgical procedures for obesity."
One should note that Mr. Trudeau has no certified medical
training.
Complaints about Kevin Trudeau's weight
loss system and business practices can be found at the Consumer Affairs website
(http://consumeraffairs.com/health/trudeau.html). In summary, the complaints
refer to the problem of unsubscribing from the website and its monthly fees, as
well as the inability to follow the protocol detailed by Trudeau in the United
States, due to product availability and legal reasons.
This book's diet has been compared to a diet plan by British
endocrinologist A.T.W. Simeons in the 1950s. The book prescribes a multi-month,
3-phase plan that involves changing to all organic foods, with repeated colonic
cleansing and liver cleansing, followed by a 2nd phase period of daily use of
HCG ( or hCG: human chorionic gonadotropin), typically injections, under the
direction of a healthcare provider or doctor. The use of hCG has been found
for men to increase testosterone linked to muscle growth, for burning fat;
however, in some clinical studies with women testosterone levels did not rise,
leaving the possibility that hCG would be in a diet plan for men only, and
taking hCG could be inappropriate for women.
For men, hCG can have some potential side-effects, including
gynecomastia (growing female breasts), water retention, increase in sex drive,
mood alterations, headaches and high blood pressure. Due to such side effects,
others warn to limit hCG to 3-week periods (with 4-week breaks) and recommend
professional guidance from a physician. Also, herbs, such as tongkat ali (longjack),
might be used rather than risk hCG.
In Phase 1 you are advised to do such common sense things such
as drink water, walk, eat breakfast, eat dinner before 6 p.m., eat salads, stay
away from artificial sweeteners, limit carbonated drinks, no fast food, etc.
Also in Phase 1, you are encouraged to get colonics every other day, use a colon
cleanse product (of which he provides the websites for purchasing), take lots of
herbal supplements (also provided on his websites for purchase), sweat 20
minutes a day in an infrared sauna, get sun, get as many massages as possible,
do as many yoga sessions as possible (in addition to walking 1 hour a day, doing
mini-trampoline exercising 5-10 minutes 1 or 2 times a day), listen to
de-stressing cds (also available for purchase), lift weights, etc.
During Phase 3, use of hCG stops, but food must continue to be
100% organic, or the plan will fail. Other recommended activities include
walking an hour or more a day, eating organic grapefruit, and doing breathing
exercises. Critics noted that scheduled doctor visits, buying organic foods and
hCG can be very expensive for the average consumer, but also note that wealthy
people have paid to follow the plan, and critics do not deny that the plan might
work for people who can afford it. Those critics did not address if taking hCG
would be inappropriate for women.
Since 1975, the FDA has required the following labeling on HCG:
HCG has not been demonstrated to be effective adjunctive therapy in the
treatment of obesity. There is no substantial evidence that it increases weight
loss beyond that resulting from calorie restriction, that it causes a more
attractive or "normal" distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and
discomfort associated with calorie restricted diets.
Commentary
This appears to be another of Trudeau's money making schemes of
dubious value and not backed up by science. The list of exercise you are
required to perform in Phase 1 would make anyone lose weight. Plus, we don't
really think it's practical or good to do colon cleansing every 2 days, to say
nothing of taking injections of hCG and lots of herbal supplements that may be
natural but not necessarily safe for everyone. In addition, the cost of all
these supplements, injections, massages, colonics, etc. is just not practical
for most people, to say nothing of the time needed for all these exercises.
Leave this miracle cure tome on the shelf and save your money.