Besides health food products, slimming with the aid of apparatuses has increasingly come into vogue.
The latest gadgets, for example, came in the form of a horse as horse riding exercise machines. It mimics horseback riding experience with forward/backward and horizontal motion.
Are they effective? Maybe and maybe not but it will sure cost you some $6,000 to $15,000 to buy the machine.
According to the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association and the Hong Kong Orthopaedic Association, horse riding exercise machine is likened to a mild form of aerobic exercise. Users have to use their body parts - trunk, abdominal, thigh, calf and back muscles - to maintain balance and good posture when seated on the machine.
Through this process of body exertion, as with other forms of aerobic exercise, it enhances the functions of the heart and lung and increases their endurance.
Regular aerobic exercise has been proven to help effective burning of calories and increasing the basal metabolic rate, thus the aid in weight loss.
The effectiveness of horse riding exercise machines depends on such factors as (a) design, speed and degree of simulated actions, (b) intensity and frequency of application, (c) whether the users apply them correctly, and (d) suitability to the individual.
The machine is not suitable for all people. The Consumer Council has this advice for the elderly especially those who do not exercise regularly or have long-term illness, the very young, and people with spinal problems or impaired neuromuscular co-ordination: they should seek medical advice before adopting any physical exercise.
Furthermore, the Council also looked at another popular device - the slimming belts which are installed with electrically operated motors to give an oscillating massage when wrapped around the body.
According to the experts, the effect of slimming belts in weight loss is at best minimal. This is because the belts provide only passive exercises in which their effect in burning excess body fat is none to minimal.
Some users may experience skin itchiness or redness after use. These might be caused by stimulated blood circulation and in response to the vibration or friction of the oscillating belt movement.
People who are pregnant, taking long-term medications, suffer from tumour/heart diseases/back disorders, or feeling unwell after use, should seek medical opinion before adopting the exercise.
Members of the public should control their weight by a balanced diet as well as suitable and adequate physical exercise.
The Consumer Council reserves all its right (including copyright) in respect of CHOICE Magazine and Online CHOICE ( https://echoice.consumer.org.hk/ ).