By Yao Minji (Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2007-04-28 11:01

Many people have expressed their amazement and praised her courage and persistence.

Moxuan says in her blog that she lost the weight by eating very little food and drinking lots of water - a very unhealthy diet. She also exercised strenuously every day. She says she does not recommend her own weight loss method - doctors don't either.

Moxuan did not respond to e-mail queries from Shanghai Daily.

Doctors say that Moxuan's weight-loss plan is very unhealthy and that what is required is a change in lifestyle and diet. Most experts recommend a balanced, low-calorie diet and steady exercise.

Moxuan says in her blog that she still wants to lose more weight. She posts recipes and her own pictures.

In fact, similar blogs are popular.

"There are people who really lost that much, but I doubt most cases are posted online," says Tan. "Plus, those who lost so much in such little time are often not healthy."

On the other hand, 26-year-old Patricia Liu loves reading weight control blogs. "The blogs encourage me a lot. If they can do it, then I can do it."

However, she hesitates to post her story or pictures or participate in a contest.

"I don't want to post my fat pictures online. Plus, it would be so much pressure. For me, weight loss is quite private. If I post it publicly, I will have to push myself," she says.

But that is exactly why obesity expert Dr Xiao Dunren recommends the method.

"People get lazy and tired about diets, which is only natural, especially if they didn't lose what they expected to. But if they announce the target publicly or join a competition, it will push them to achieve the goal," Xiao says.

Dr Xiao owns a hospital specializing in obesity treatments in Taiwan. He is quoted by Abbott, the pharmaceutical company promoting the contest.

Xiao says statistics show a 20-percent increase in weight-loss efficiency for the people who write diet diaries, according to Abbot's press release. The source of the statistics was not given.

If they also participate in group treatments, the efficacy goes up another 20 percent, Dr Xiao says.

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