Metabolic Balance
Metabolic Balance is a diet that was developed by Wolf Funfack (1946–2013) and Silvia Bürkle and is distributed by Metabolic Balance GmbH & Co. KG, based in Isen . The licensing company puts the holistic aspect of physical wellbeing in the foreground and describes weight loss merely as a desired side effect. Metabolic Balance has come under fire for its lack of scientific standards.
preparation
A personal food plan is drawn up for the change in diet. For this purpose, 36 blood values are analyzed, the personal data of the participant (his body measurements, weight, medical history, medication, likes and dislikes for food) are evaluated using a company's own computer program and checked again by the respective supervisors based on the initial data. In addition to the permitted foods, the master plan also contains rules of conduct and is handed over to the participants in the program by the independent supervisors, usually doctors or alternative practitioners, with explanatory remarks in a personal conversation.
The diet
Phase 1: preparatory phase
The body is prepared for the actual diet by means of light food and an emptying of the bowels, a laxative or an enema. The preparation phase lasts 2 days.
Phase 2: strict conversion phase
All foods are divided into certain categories, for example meat, fish, seafood, poultry, vegetables, fruit, etc. For each meal, a protein-rich food is combined with a carbohydrate-rich (high-molecular) one, the respective quantities being specified. In addition, an individually determined amount of wholegrain rye bread or rye crispbread and a type of fruit may be eaten. The permitted foods in the respective categories and quantities are determined on the basis of personal data and laboratory values. The phase lasts at least 14 days.
Phase 3: relaxed phase
The categories and foods are expanded compared to phase 2. The participants also try out the individually correct amounts of food based on the experience gained through the strict conversion phase. Violation of the diet plan is also permitted and recommended once a week. At the same time, careful experimentation with foods that are not listed should be carried out, ensuring that the foods are natural and have a low glycemic load .
Phase 4: maintenance phase
The eight basic rules learned in the previous phases should be retained. The dieter should pay special attention to healthy eating.
General
Diet plans include ingestion of 30 to 35 ml of water per kilogram of body weight per day, as recommended by most nutrition societies. The composition of the food keeps the glycemic load low. Likewise, the dieter can switch to an earlier phase at any time or start all over again. The recommendation of the primary nutrients is balanced with carbohydrates around 45%, fats around 35%, proteins 20%. The food quantities roughly cover the individual basal metabolic rate.
Economic considerations
The company issues licenses in more than thirty countries and has trained more than 2500 supervisors. The still active carers pay an annual license fee in addition to the costs for the individual nutrition plans.
According to Funfack, the company uses the computer program to create up to 2,000 diet plans worldwide every month, for which the supervisors pay € 80 each. The company recommends that the end customer should not be offered the diet for less than € 360, as individual participant support is an important part of the program and should include at least ten appointments.
criticism
Since manufacturers the program as a trade secret deal is unknown, according to which criteria the computer program creates the food plans. That makes it difficult to make a scientifically sound statement. Due to this lack of transparency and in view of the relatively high price, the Bavarian Consumer Center warns against Metabolic Balance.
The Hochrhein Institute for Rehabilitation Research Bad Säckingen carried out a twelve-month study on behalf of the company to determine its effectiveness. The results have been available since October 2009. It was determined that an average of 4.4–6.8 kg can be lost in 12 months, which is rated as successful. It should be noted, however, that this is not necessarily due to the computer-generated plan, but may just as well be due to the strict self-discipline that one is prepared to adhere to due to the high costs. According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung , the institute does not work independently of Funfacks Metabolic Balance GmbH , but rather is their "contractor" itself and is developing a quality assurance program for the GmbH (as of 23 August 2011).
Since the participants do not learn in the long term to eat differently and to exercise enough physical activity, a yo-yo effect can be expected after a short time . Metabolic balance is therefore not recommended from a nutritional perspective.
Web links
- Official website of the Diet Metabolic Balance Germany with further information
Individual evidence
- ↑ Alexandra Kreissl, Kurt Widhalm: Evaluation of Metabolic Balance. In: Österreichische Ärztezeitung , No. 3, February 10, 2009
- ↑ test results. ( Memento of the original from January 25, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Austrian medical newspaper
- ↑ Live healthy. Stern , 2/2009, p. 36
- ↑ a b Healthier and leaner with the personal metabolism program ( Memento of the original from February 25, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Twelve month study results. Hochrhein Institute
- ↑ stern.de
- ↑ Ulrike Heidenreich: Messiah of the plump. Slimming program from Bavaria . In: Süddeutsche Zeitung , 23 August 2011, p. 2; Retrieved November 6, 2011
