Does Slim-Fast Work for Men?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as much as 33.3 percent of men in the United States qualify as being obese in regard to their body mass index scores, or BMI. BMI is calculated by comparing your height and weight to determine an approximate range of body fat. Those with a BMI of greater than 25 are considered overweight, while those with a BMI of greater than 30 are considered obese. With so many men facing obesity in the United States, the market is flooded with products to help you lose weight. One of the most prominent and recognizable products on the market is Slim-Fast.

History

Slim-Fast was introduced to the market in 1977 by S. Daniel Abraham. The brand took off in 1987 when Abraham split off from Thompson Medical Group and Slim-Fast was later purchased by Unilever, which continues to own the Slim-Fast brand.

Options

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Men have several options when it comes to using the Slim-Fast diet system. Slim-Fast started with only shakes in a limited amount of options. Sticking to a monotonous diet plan can be difficult, which has led to Slim-Fast's developing a line of products that includes meal replacement bars to shakes in a multitude of flavors.

Structure

The Slim-Fast meal plan is structured for both men and women to include three 100-hundred calorie snacks, two shakes or meal bars and a balanced healthy meal of 500 calories or fewer. When followed properly, this can help men lose weight by restricting the overall calorie intake for the day. The fewer calories consumed during the day, the fewer calories you will need to burn to lose weight. The meal plan works the same for both men and women. However, men may be able to increase their calories for the final meal beyond 500 depending on their daily calorie goals.

Low-Carb and High-Protein and Fiber

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With the increased popularity of the low-carbohydrate diet, Slim-Fast has added additional low-carb and high-protein products to its line that may further help men lose weight. A low-carbohydrate diet finds much of its success in that it helps you stay fuller for longer over a period of time, states the Mayo Clinic, due to fats and proteins taking longer to digest than carbohydrates. This can result in more successfully consuming fewer calories over time without feelings of starvation.

Dangers

Slim-Fast is generally safe, as long as you follow the plan and consume enough calories for your body to function properly. Removing some of the shakes and meals from the Slim-Fast plan or eating fewer than 500 calories for dinner can result in consuming too little calories, which can cause serious health problems. You should not let your diet fall below 1,000 calories without the direction and supervision of your doctor. It should also be noted that in December 2009, all Slim-Fast canned drinks were recalled by Unilever due to possible bacterial contamination by the microorganism Bacillus cereus. However, no injury was reported to the Food and Drug Administration, and the products produced after the recall are believed to be safe.