Body fat is something everyone has. But if you feel you have too much of it, or it lurks in a few places where you would rather it didn’t, you might wonder just what the best ways are of reducing it.
There are, of course, obvious steps to do with more diets and exercise and these should always be your primary means of reducing fat because of the widespread health benefits that come with this. But it will not have escaped the notice of many people that some folk never seem to put on weight no matter what they eat, while others just can’t get it off.
Metabolism and genetics are part of this, but it’s also worth bearing in mind that there are some big urban myths about fat. If you are considering work like having fat-dissolving injections, it helps to know just when and why it may work for you.
How Stuff Works once listed no fewer than ten myths about fat. Some of them may be familiar, like the idea that muscle burns more energy than fat – even though the thing that burns by far the most energy is the brain, which is just two per cent of body weight on average.
It also covered the issue of cellulite, the very thing that causes the most angst for many people, especially women. There is a myth that it is caused by “toxins or impurities”. This means some proclaimed ‘cures’ like lymphatic drainage to caffeine creams will not be effective against it. It is, quite simply, another form of fat.
The simple truth about cellulite is it is mainly caused by oestrogen levels and genetics, with 90 per cent of those with it being women.
Since these are innate elements of human body chemistry, there is only so much that can be done beyond the diet and exercise elements. Sadly, for some, it is indeed persistent and you may need extra help to shift it.
It is in this context that you should look at treatments like fat-dissolving injections. Designed for persistent fat around the stomach, thighs and chin, they use a product called Aqualix, which is essentially a form of acid with the capacity to dissolve fat.
You may need this treatment more than once to be fully effective and there are potential side-effects like redness, swelling and bruising around the injection area. In addition, it is not recommended for anyone pregnant or breastfeeding.
What this highlights is that fat-dissolving is a localised treatment and therefore not a cure-all for excess body fat. The causes of cellulite are complex and not always well understood, leading some to seek the wrong solutions and pay good money doing so.
In reality, the time to consider fat-dissolving Aqualix is when you have taken all other reasonable steps by burning off lots of energy with exercise and eating healthy, low-fat food. If you are on a quest to go from being generally overweight to looking fabulous and cellulite-free, this kind of treatment is the final touch, not the main solution.