My two cents on the latest weight loss craze in Kenya....Magilim

Anyone who has heard me speak about my own weight management post pregnancy or general weight loss would know I am old school. I believe in exercise and consciously controlling all other factors that lead to weight gain including sleep, stress and of course diet. However, I believe in keeping an open mind. Lately, there has been a craze over a product called Magilim that is claiming to do wonders in weight loss. It is being sold online as well and it seems that our Kenya Bureau of Standards thinks it is suitable for human consumption. I have not used Magilim, nor am I planning to. Here's what I found out about this product.

Active ingredient: konjac glucomannan

That mouthful is an extract from the root of the Japanese konjac plant. It is a soluble fibre

The capsules, tablets and powder made from the extract are used in medicine to treat:

1. Constipation - "Glucomannan might work in the stomach and intestines by absorbing water to form a bulky fiber which treats constipation" (WebMD)  Studies have actually shown its effectiveness in dealing with constipation.
2. Lowering cholesterol - Studies have shown that glucomannan can help reduce cholesterol.
3. Controlling blood sugar in persons with type 2 diabetes - Glucomannan has also been shown to be effective in this.
Last but not least....
4. Weight loss - My research was not extensive but I did find papers that claimed there was some weight loss in obese persons who took the supplement while I found other papers claiming there was no statistical difference between a group given a placebo and a group given the supplement.

Side Effects and Interactions

1. Choking, blockage of throat and intestines.....Products with glucomannan need to be taken with a lot of water (hmm, perhaps because they expand so much?) they should also not be taken just before going to bed.
2. While taking other medications, it is not advisable to take this supplement as it reduces absorption in the intestines.
3. Because it interferes with blood sugar, it is also not advisable to take it when going for surgery or after. It should also not be taken without the consent of a doctor by people who suffer from diabetes especially if they are on medication.

Generally speaking, I am not an advocate for diet pills and/or supplements. I do realise however, the market for such is enormous. People are always looking for easier ways to lose weight, we are always told to work smart, and the thought that we don't have to work hard to maintain our weight is very attractive.
However, there are no credible conflicting studies on the effectiveness of diet control and exercise in weight management. Now that's something to think about.

Relative to average income, this weight loss product is quite expensive. Even if it works, and I am not saying it does or does not, without a major change in diet and/or exercise, will one need to keep on taking this in order to maintain weight loss?
It is clear that vendors of this product are taking advantage of our authorities who sometimes do not show the same scrupulous scrutiny of products on our market as others do. As I have said before in my blogs, be conscious. Be conscious about what you put in your mouth. Just because it is printed on the packaging, doesn't mean it is true.

Have an active day!