The Myths of Fitness As I recently listened to a commercial for creatine pills, claiming they would increase power, strength, and endurance, three “red flags†went up: the ad claimed that over 300 studies proved the the pills effectiveness, exercise was not mentioned, and obviously the company hoped to make money. This is a good example of how some companies attempt to manipulate people who have a genuine interest in their health, fitness, and well-being for the sake of profit. Unlike “experimentsâ€, which are carefully controlled and can be replicated, studies are often informal and can easily be slanted to get desired results. For example, if a researcher put an ad in a football magazine asking for volunteers to take a survey, and then asked respondents, “What is your favorite sport?â€, can you guess what the results of the survey would show? Done properly, studies can only demonstrate possible “associationsâ€, which may suggest significant connections, while experiments normally demonstrate “causationâ€, that something causes something else to happen. So, in the case of the creatine commercial, even 300 studies dont necessarily prove anything. It was interesting to me that the announcer did not mention exercise. He implied that you could take the pills and get results without any physical effort. But muscles only become more effective if they are used to move weight. The more you “challenge†your muscles, within reason, the more strength, power, and/or endurance you will gain. Finally, there was an obvious conflict of interest. Of course the company was going to claim that their pills would produce substantial benefits. They stand to make a profit! Whenever I hear claims about supplements, exercise programs, or machines/equipment, my first question is, “What do they have to gain?†If the claims are the result of experimentation by an accredited university or sports research program, there is a greater possibility that the results are objective and factual because they are not selling anything. From a June 2012 research article at the BMJ Open website: “There is a striking lack of evidence to support the vast majority of sports-related products that make claims related to enhanced performance or recovery, including drinks, supplements and footwear. Half of all websites for these products provided no evidence for their claims, and of those that do, half of the evidence is not suitable for critical appraisal. No systematic reviews were found, and overall, the evidence base was judged to be at high risk of bias.†(bmjopen.bmj/content/2/4/e001702.full.pdf+html?sid=62af34dc-5e3e-49cc-a36e-d0f76537cb3e) Most supplements probably wont hurt you, but are you getting your moneys worth in benefits? The “fat burning zone†is a common myth. (I may go into more detail on this one in a future article.) Heart rate monitors can be helpful or not, depending on how you use them. Dont choose running shoes based on cost. There is no correlation. Compression stockings probably dont help improve athletic performance. (runningpetitor/2013/12/recovery/do-compression-socks-really-work_62611) What does work? Regular, quality exercise. High intensity intervals and variety are key components in exercising effectively. Good nutrition is important. Get plenty of rest. Stay hydrated. Do these, and you will be fit, healthy, and energized.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 03:31:51 +0000
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