The famous nutritionist spoke frankly about a widely distributed slimming product which, according to him, is totally ineffective.
On his Instagram account, Jean-Michel Cohen does not mince his words. “Should you believe it or not? I’ll explain everything to you!” he announces in the preamble to a video posted at the beginning of September. This time it is about deciphering a product supposed to help lose localized fat. A solution which, according to certain influencers and brands, would allow you to sculpt a silhouette. Jean-Michel Cohen, for his part, only sees a well-packaged decoy. Behind the slogans and promises of rapid transformation, he methodically dismantles what he considers to be an unfounded marketing argument.
In his video, he explains that this type of product is often presented as capable of burning fat where it is applied. And he immediately explains why this reasoning does not hold water: “It doesn’t work, for two reasons.” The first is linked to a natural barrier. Even if the active ingredient contained in the product had a proven effect on fat cells in a test tube, it would never reach its target in the human body. “It will not be able to cross the skin barrier”, he recalls. This simple observation is enough to call into question the entire claimed effectiveness of fat-burning creams. The second reason is side effects wrongly presented as results. We may have the impression that the skin becomes firmer, smoother, sometimes warmer, but for Jean-Michel Cohen, we must not confuse vascularization and loss of fat mass. “It will probably change the color or tone of your skin, maybe it will increase vascularity, but it won’t work on fat.”
These creams are often sold at high prices, with before/after visuals and enthusiastic testimonials. Some display natural compositions, relying on plant extracts such as guarana, caffeine or ivy. Others boast targeted action on stubborn areas of the body. All of them are based on an attractive idea: eliminating curves without changing anything in your daily life. The nutritionist denounces an illusion, built on a very real need – that of feeling better in one’s body – and exploited by an industry which plays on frustrations. He reminds us that body fat does not disappear locally under the effect of a massage, however intense it may be. And that the skin is not a simple permeable film capable of absorbing fat-burning active ingredients like a sponge. In short, these products are a huge scam for this healthcare professional.
The idea of a miracle solution that one could apply in the morning before leaving for work seems not only unfounded, but also potentially dangerous if it distracts consumers from a global, slower, but sustainable approach.
