The Sensa diet suggests that adding a shake of the company's product to your meal helps you lose weight. Its creation came from reports that those who lose their sense of smell due to a traumatic injury to the brain often gain weight. Dr. Alan Hirsch, the neurologist who created Sensa, examined whether the introduction of flavorful tastes and aromas would help people lose weight.
The Result
Hirsch's study, presented at the 2008 Endocrine Society annual meeting in San Francisco, found participants who used savory or sweet crystals that are calorie- and sodium-free on their food lost an average of 15 percent of their body weight over a six-month period. They did so without changing their diet or exercise habits. A control group of 100 participants who used non-flavored crystals lost an average of only 2 lbs. during the same period.
The Caveat
MayoClinic.com suggests that research has yet to prove that the Sensa diet is effective for the long-term. While clinical research into the use of aroma and flavor enhancements as part of the fight against obesity seems promising, the lifestyle changes required for a healthy body weight aren't complex -- create a calorie deficit by expending more calories than you take in and maintain a gentle pace of losing 1 to 2 lbs. per week. MayoClinic.com recommends adopting healthy eating and exercise approaches rather than adopting a habit that may not work to maintain your weight loss.
Downside
Sensa is relatively expensive. At the time of publication, a 60-day supply of crystals cost $90. Most retailers sell two months' supply at a time, for a total of six months. This means you spend roughly $300 over the life of the diet. While it may seem attractive to maintain your lifestyle and still lose weight, a healthy approach to losing weight requires modifying the lifestyle that caused you to gain weight in the first place. The Sensa diet doesn't support this approach, and may mask the habits that cause weight gain. Once you stop using the shakers, it's unclear how long you keep the weight off, if at all.
Conclusion
While Hirsch's study suggests using aroma-based sensory tools assist in losing weight, it isn't clear that you maintain the weight lost once you stop using the product. As Sensa and similar products are expensive, creating a calorie deficit from exercise and healthy eating is not only more cost-effective, but also healthy in the long-term.
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