Skinny Drinks Trump Diet

A few weeks ago, I wrote, in jest, about the concept of taking diet drinks to a whole new level - the negative calorie level. I wrote in the way of farce and complete lack of seriousness that I normally do (A very odd sense of humor, that is. If you even think I have this sense at all). Alas... apparently I was onto something...

Meet Jana (tm) Skinny Water. It's a fairly new product that claims it's "a no-calorie water, enhanced with a unique combination of ingredients to help people lose and maintain their weight." The web site claims it can help curb appetite, burn fat and help reduce weight. Is this for real? And there are other companies (Fuze, Celsius and supposedly even a Coke company partner) who are getting into the mix.

I understand that ingredients in a drink could help increase someone's metabolism... but really help with weight loss? This sounds like it has the capability to make people even lazier or less responsible for their health than they currently are. "I don't need to work out... I had a few negative calorie drinks today."

If people rely on food, drinks or drugs as magic bullets for weight loss, obesity will continue to stick around like last week's doughnut to my hips. I mean, I'm all for innovation and getting whatever help we can get. But at some point shouldn't we just head out for exercise in pursuit of health, rather than heading to the fridge?