Meet 3 controversial dudes at the forefront of the health and wellness industry
Written by Stephen P. Sowulewski
Who is your go-to guy for professional advice on staying healthy and fit? If your answer is one of the many self-proclaimed “health-honchos,” you may want to form a Plan B. While it may be tempting to hang on to every word dispensed by popular health and fitness figures, we often get enticed by what we want to hear rather than the truth. Here’s the back story on three “big names” out there now.
Tony Horton
Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Paul Ryan is among the many faithful followers of Tony Horton’s popular yet controversial exercise program P90X, a staple of late-night infomercials. Also known as “Power 90 Extreme,” the program combines lengthy at-home cross-training workouts (weight training, martial arts, yoga and calisthenics) in combination with a nutrition and dietary supplement plan.
Horton, a former theater major-turned-standup comedian, has been the public face and primary salesman of P90X through his company, Beachbody. Much of the controversy stems not from the program’s physical demands but its nutritional guidelines, which Horton developed despite his lack of a dietetic background. The high-protein diet advised in the regimen’s first two phases is greater than the stated federal recommended dietary allowance (RDA). Furthermore, phase one is a standard carbohydrate-restrictive diet that advises limiting carbs to 30 percent of daily caloric intake as opposed to the generally accepted 45 to 65 percent recommended for a healthy diet. Plus, Horton’s plan requires customers to buy certain nutritional supplements and resistance training equipment.
Horton has coined the phrase “muscle confusion” to explain the science behind P90X; but muscle confusion is not a science, and muscles cannot be confused. When asked about this in interviews, Horton’s answer seems unclear. While it might work for some people, in my opinion the plan is not all that revolutionary and doesn’t come from a person with good credentials.
Bob Harper
Chances are you’ve seen (or at least heard of) The Biggest Loser, which debuted in 2004 and is still going strong after 12 seasons. One of its high-profile personal trainers is Bob Harper, who generally is a non-divisive figure in the media. However, not all agree with his fitness philosophy.
Some argue that there is very little new in Harper’s Function Training Method, a holistic approach that unifies a large number of well-supported and researched health practices under a single plan.
In other words, some feel he’s benefiting from a set of techniques he didn’t develop.
Another criticism relates to Harper’s role on The Biggest Loser. Many dietitians and health professionals believe the show’s focus on rapid weight loss and restrictive dieting may lead to unrealistic expectations for viewers attempting to improve their own health. Due to production constraints and a desire to increase viewer excitement, the regime is significantly more intense than most recommended by experts.
Bob Harper has replied to these concerns by
pointing out the show’s attention to safety, its motivational power and the differing nature of his personal exercise program. He also stands by his popular diet book, although some nutritionists question the effectiveness of his “eat more” approach to hunger control, especially for individuals with metabolic issues.
Jamie Oliver
His intentions are noble, and his hit TV show Jamie Oliver Food Revolution has brought attention to one of the most pressing health issues facing our nation: childhood obesity. However, some Americans have complained about a British chef tackling the obesity issue in the United States while this trend looms large in his home country. On another front, Oliver has gotten flak from animal rights groups such as PETA. The chef’s television show has investigated pig welfare standards urging people to buy British rather than cheaper pork produced abroad under poorer conditions. But PETA argued: “The answer to saving pigs is not to buy British pork, it’s to go vegetarian.”
To his credit, Oliver did help create a public outcry for healthier school lunches by championing fewer processed foods on his award-winning series Jamie’s School Dinners, shown in the United Kingdom. His 2008 series, Jamie’s Ministry of Food, showed how people who can’t cook could be inspired with just a little encouragement and information on healthy recipes and how to use
fresh ingredients.
Health and fitness gurus will always come and go. Just be sure to do your homework, evaluate credentials and check out testimonials before deciding whether their advice is truly worth taking.