Advertising done by spas today in regard to body wraps is quite alarming. Many companies around the country state this particular spa treatment is both effective and safe for helping a person lose unwanted body fat. Unfortunately, millions of people are wasting money in anticipation of becoming leaner when in truth body wraps are not capable of eliminating or shrinking body fat cells.
Body wraps involve cloth that is slathered with different mixtures of natural ingredients and nutrients such as herbs, seaweed, mud, clay, minerals, enzymes, and more, which would then be applied to a person’s body, specifically where fat loss is desired. The person who chooses body wraps for this purpose spends a lot of money and time in anticipation of change but change never comes.
Medical View of Body Wraps
Spas and other organizations that offer body wrap treatments may call them by a number of things to include sauna wraps and rubber wraps. Regardless of the preferred terms, a wrap is intended to burn off body fat or make fat cells smaller. The individual that chooses a body wrap treatment would initially feel refreshed but achieving the goal of fat loss is impossible. Medical experts have long studied the effects of body wraps and the conclusion is that fat loss can only be achieved by eating the right types of foods, limiting the number of calories consumed, and getting some type of physical activity on a daily basis.
Without doubt, the spa experience of a body wrap would be enjoyable, allowing a person to be pampered while in a beautiful and peaceful environment. However, to lose or reduce fat, body wraps do not work. The problem is that millions of people have been sucked into believing they can lose unwanted fat due to strategic advertising practices of spas that offer this type of treatment. While it would be nice to spend an hour in a body wrap and actually get rid of fat, the truth is the only solution is with a sound diet and daily physical activity.
Claims being made by spas specific to body wraps have become a very serious problem. In fact, so many companies are currently making fraudulent claims that the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has started cracking down on those telling customers that body wraps are an excellent fat loss remedy. For spas that continue to advertise using false claims, many have been slapped with hefty fines.
An Inside Look at Body Wraps
Body wraps are comprised of cloth that has a single or several natural ingredients and nutrients applied. This cloth would then be placed on a person’s problem area and according to claims, reduce or eliminate fat. The truth is that many of the ingredients and nutrients used are beneficial but in other applications. In reference to body wraps, the only reduction a person experiences is water retention. For this reason, someone having this type of spa treatment would actually lose inches but there is a huge difference between fat and inches, especially those coming from water loss.
When an individual visits a spa claiming fat loss or reduction from body wraps, it is common practice for measurements of that person to be taken before and after the treatment. With this, a person can see the reduction of inches, believing that fat had indeed been lost. However, if these same spas were to offer a composition testing of body fat, a customer would quickly realize that no fat loss or even reduction of fat cells had occurred. In fear of being exposed, composition testing of body fat is simply not offered.
Interestingly, while the FTC and Attorney General’s Office for many states has nailed hundreds of spas all over the country, claims of fat loss or reduction continue to be a serious problem. In fact, the degree of the problem could be confirmed with a simple online research of spas claiming that body wrap treatments offer benefits of fat reduction. Of course, because of many companies have been hit with stiff fines, spas have learned that with unique advertising, they can stay out from under the microscope.
It is critical to remember that any loss associated with body wraps is nothing more than water. The types of natural ingredients and nutrients used along with heat associated with the body wrap treatment, fluid would be drawn out, which is what produces the reduction of inches. However, within a few hours or perhaps days, lost inches would return due to the individual’s normal intake of fluid.
Strategic Advertising Methodologies
Keep in mind that spas claiming a person could lose fat with body wraps are making a significant amount of profit so the last thing they want is for the government to expose them or worse, shut the operation down. However, with this claim being such a huge money maker, if these companies did not promote loss, business would decline. As a result, spas have devised methods of strategic advertising although they are still deceptive and in some cases, illegal.
A prime example is the claim that an individual could have one body wrap treatment and lose as much as 10 inches. Well, that claim is true in that someone retaining a large volume of water could drop 10 inches but again, it would only be fluid and results temporary. Even with a claim such as this being true, it is also misleading because it has a slight undertone connected to body fat.
Spas have also begun to claim that without changing eating patterns or exercising, an individual could lose body fats with a single body wrap session. For one thing, this type of claim is not supported from a scientific or medical standpoint in that body fat cannot be eliminated or shrunk with this method. Of course, not encouraging someone to adopt healthy eating or get some type of physical activity daily is highly irresponsible.
Claims about fat loss or fat reduction are bad but spas have made other more troubling claims. In particular, some spas claim that accumulated toxic waste can be flushed out from the body using this spa treatment. In truth, detoxification comes from the inside out with various programs and products, along with lifestyle change. Another claim is that body wraps encourage improved blood circulation, which is a bold face lie. Then, advertising has stated that body wraps allow person to regain a more youthful appearance thanks to clear and smooth skin, again false.
In talking to researchers connected to the health and fitness sector, well-respected medical professionals, and officials with the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), claims made about body wraps are highly debatable. In fact, many of these experts believe the claims are not only pseudoscientific trash, meaning there is no scientific support, but that some could put a person’s health at risk particularly because of the speed in which water is lost but also the volume.
Historically Speaking
History shows us that body wraps have always been a part of society. Throughout different parts of the world to include Greece, Asia, and Egypt, body wraps were a standard medical treatment. For instance, documentation shows that many ancient cultures used body wraps to improve blood circulation as a means of preventing blood clots from occurring or breaking down blood clots already existing. The benefit of improved blood circulation is actually one of the fraudulent claims being made by spas today but modern medical science disproves it.
It is unfortunate that so many spas choose to be dishonest by offering unsupported claims about body wraps, sauna wraps, and rubber wraps. As stated, more and more companies have realized the FTC and Attorney General’s Office has them under the microscope so claims have been modified using different terminology. Some spas now state that body wraps can help with problem areas of the body, they are therapeutic due to the heat produced, or that wraps help melt away inches. No matter the way earlier claims are rephrased, they continue to be misleading but even worse, against the law.
Are There Benefits to Body Wraps?
The answer to this question is yes but only because of the experience. In other words, being pampered and having the chance to lie down in a dark, quiet room is an excellent way to escape responsibilities of life. Therefore, if someone wanted to relax or unwind after an extremely busy week or having dealt with a complex situation, a body wrap treatment would in fact be beneficial. However, if that individual were interested in eliminating fat or shrinking fat cells, the spa treatment would be a complete waste of time and money.
The only way to benefit from body wraps would be in finding a spa with a solid reputation, one that makes no fraudulent claims but advertises body wraps as a way to relax and unwind. A person could also consider a spa claiming temporary loss of inches but any place where claims are being made specific to fat loss should be avoided. Along with being deceptive and illegal, spas that make false claims like this care nothing about an individual’s wellbeing.
There are instances when spas make misleading claims that are not actually illegal but if a company were willing to do this, it would certainly make a person wonder if deceptive practices were being followed, as well. To get past advertising terms being watched by the FTC and Attorney General’s Office, some spas have created visual advertising. For instance, the advertisement might feature a woman who removes a body wrap only to reveal an amazing six-pack. For one thing, the woman is a professional athlete and the only way she achieved the tight stomach was through diet and exercise, not a body wrap treatment.
In summary, someone who wants to get rid of excess body fat would need to follow an appropriate diet plan and get a minimum of 45 minutes exercise a day. In choosing body wraps offered by spas claiming the treatment would help achieve that very goal, the individual would be scammed. Thanks to the hard work of the government, the number of spas making fraudulent and illegal claims should begin to decline. However, people have the responsibility to make educated decisions, which gives them the right to avoid deceptive companies making outlandish claims about body wraps and fat loss.