The History Of Exercise Scams

Because of the growing problem of obesity and obesity-related illness, weight loss is a common goal for many people in the United States. Unfortunately, according to the American Council on Exercise, over half of exercisers discontinue their program within the first six months, often citing lack of time. The need for a fast solution to weight loss has given rise to many fraudulent exercise and weight-loss products. While the exact history of these products and programs is unclear, many odd exercise products appeared in the early 1900s with common themes that continue to be seen.

Early Exercise Equipment

Gustav Zander, a Swedish physician and gymnast, pioneered mechanical exercise equipment to increase strength and mobility through gradually increasing resistance. Although many of his inventions led to machines in use today, Zander also experimented with timed percussion applied to the body to strengthen vital energy.

Vibration Therapy

John Harvey Kellogg, who later founded Kellogg Cereal, experimented with many forms of alternative medicine at the start of the 1900s. The theories of Kellogg were largely ahead of his time, suggesting the need for proper diet and exercise as well as the link between smoking and lung cancer. Kellogg was especially concerned with the bowels' effect on overall bodily health. In 1900, Kellogg invented a wooden vibrating chair that he claimed would cleanse the intestines, cure back and headaches and contribute to muscle tone. The vibrating chair was uncomfortable and even painful to use and never caught on but various vibrating products, including the vibrating belts of the 1950s, were based on similar principles.

Electronic Ab Exercisers

As technology and the understanding of electricity advanced, products claiming weight loss through electrical impulses became available. Offered by several manufacturers, these devices delivered a weak charge that would cause the muscle to tighten and, theoretically, achieve weight loss and muscle gain. While electrical muscle stimulators are widely used medical devices with various benefits, including temporary increases in muscle tone, they will not cause weight loss.

Supplements

Many supplements are beneficial as aids in exercise and dieting but many more make unsubstantiated claims regarding results. The "exercise in a bottle" family of supplements are touted to replace the need for exercise and cause lasting improvements to the cardiovascular system. While a supplement can speed the metabolism and encourage muscle growth, you won't find a substitute for the benefits of a balanced exercise program.