The 'Enhanced' Slimming Belt, suitable for both females and males, has been developed based around the theory of acupressure points, combined with the theories of sports science. Essentially, this approach uses varying oscillating speeds to stimulate acupressure points on the abdomen which are known to have slimming and digestion effects and benefits. Chinese physicians refer to these acupressure points as the 'Guan Yuan', 'Tian Shu', 'Si Man', 'Shui Fen' and 'Zhong Wan'. To see their locations on the body, please look at the captions on the illustration above.

Also shown in the photo above is the belt's LCD display. The display shows that the (example) person is female, age 27, weighs 59 kilos and is 1.64m tall; the microprocessor has calculated theduration for a complete cycle and is displaying it as 16 minutes.

The functionality of the 'Enhanced' Slimming Belt is based on a combination of three features:

• A double air sack;
• Four vibrating motors;
• Heating function.

These features combine to attack the built-up fat molecules. Through the strong air pressure created by the inner airbag (this is a patented feature not found in any other slimming belts), the abdomen is in turn restricted, then released. Through rapid repetition of this process fat in the abdomen is deconstructed, enabling it to be discharged. At the same time, the circulatory system is unblocked. The process also resists further accumulation of fatty deposits.

Meanwhile, the four vibrators, located in crucial acupressure positions, are busily vibrating the fat layer, deconstructing the fat molecules and 'dissolving away' the fat.

The entire fat-degenerating procedure is enhanced by the heating function, which accelerates the fat-dissolving process.

The 'Enhanced' Slimming Belt performs other beneficial processes:

• In relation to digestion, the slimming belt mimicks the movement of the transverse colon system (the large intestine below your stomach), promoting an effective digestive system.
• This improved digestive process results in more efficient absorption of nutrients, leading to improved circulation and complexion.
• The slimming belt also simulates traditional therapeutic massages, essentially offering a physiotherapy function.
• In relation to sports massage, the slimming belt provides toning and treatment to the major muscle groups, helping to prevent injury and prolonging active sports life.

The four-person LCD display enables key facts about each person to be stored (gender; age; height; weight). The duration of the slimming programme is then automatically adjusted to suit each individual user. 

The belt is adjustable from a minimum length of 60cms (24") to a maximum of 120cms (48"). At it's widest (which is the 'business' part of the belt that fits over your tummy) the belt is 21cms (8") wide; at it's narrowest (where the belt goes around your back and the ends are overlapped and velcro'ed together) it's 10cms (4") wide.

No gel, no mess, no pads, no dangly bits!
No sticky stuff to clean up afterwards!
Just velcro it on and off!

The exterior of the slimming belt is a stain-resistant satin-effect fabric, supplied in your choice of either pink or blue. Both colours are illustrated in the photo above - the pink belt is the main image, the blue belt is shown being worn by the model. The belt is a high-quality item and is superbly finished using a finely-stitched, colour-keyed, fabric edging tape. The reverse side of the belt is black.

In the home:

When you're fairly static (perhaps relaxing on the settee - that'll be a 'couch' in the States! - or doing the ironing), like any other appliance the belt can be plugged into a mains socket.

In the car:

The belt also comes complete with an adaptor for plugging in to a car's cigarette lighter power attachment. Most modern cars no longer include a cigarette lighter, but they do still include the plug-in power attachment.

Unlike many belts we've seen, what you don't get with this belt are two feeble little AA batteries! This slimming belt is a powerful slimming aid. To compare this mains-powered belt with battery-powered belts would be to compare a racehorse with a donkey! Neither should you compare this slimming belt with a 'sauna belt' (ie, you don't take off the slimming belt and immediately need to jump in the a shower!).

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The 6-page instruction booklet (in English!), although comprehensive, takes just a few minutes to read (these belts are sophisticated but they're not rocket science to understand!).

The attractive presentation box (shown in the bottom left of the photo) measures a substantial 43 x 25 x 7cms (17 x 10 x 3").

The 'Enhanced' Slimming Belt weighs 1.5kg (just over 3lbs) and is offered with 6 months' manufacturers' warranty.

Do slimming belts work?

Browsing through the various auctions for slimming belts (including the incredible proliferation of the vastly inferior 'sauna belts') you'll often see the claim that 10 minutes use of a slimming belt is equivalent to 600 sit-ups. This is, of course, absolute rubbish. The web page where I last saw this claim was also promoting another very interesting product - 'Height Increase Device - A Natural Way to Grow Taller'. Yeah, right, equally believable.

Fifteen years ago the American author and childhood-obesity expert Frances Berg inaugurated the annual 'Slim Chance Awards' in reaction to the glut of useless products on the market. There are countless products out there that promise quick weight loss with no effort," she says. Most of them are complete scams that make your wallet thinner but not the rest of you.

So beware.

To achieve permanent weight loss there can be no substitute for a sensible diet and regular exercise. Used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise regime there is every probability that a slimming belt will aid weight loss. If - like me - you're always pushed for time and have the willpower of a gnat, then the very act of commiting to the purchase of a slimming belt may be your first determined step towards losing weight.

Acupressure:

Acupressure, sometimes referred to as non-invasive acupuncture, is a means of adjusting and balancing the body's inner energy flow by the stimulation of acupuncture points along the meridian energy channels, in which energy travels around the body. The constantly-circulating energy is essential for health and wellbeing. If blockages slow down, speed up or divert the energy flow in the system, the resulting energy imbalances can potentially lead to a number of dysfunctions within the body. These can result in poorly-functioning organs and tissue and lead to pain, discomfort, lack of vitality and other unpleasant symptoms. Acupressure helps to remove the energy blockages and diversions, helping energy to flow throughout the body in a balanced manner, thus contributing to overall health of the individual.

In the contemporary era of electronics, scientists have translated traditional principles of acupuncture into simple-to-use bioelectric devices designed for an easy self-management - hence the slimming belt.

Technical details:

The 'Enhanced' Slimming Belt has a substantial power output of 8.4w. To give you an impression of the relative power of this belt, it is the most powerful in the manufacturer's range of belts (other power levels are 7.2w and 5.5w).

The maximum operating voltage is 250v. The slimming belt is supplied ready for UK use to UK specifications with a 230 volt supply, terminating in a 3-flat pin plug. Basically, you plug the belt into the adaptor and plug the adaptor into a normal UK plug socket in the wall.

The output voltage is DC12V.

Overseas use:

We've already sold successfully to users in USA, Canada, Germany and Finland. For use in countries which don't have UK-style plug sockets you'll need to obtain a plug converter. One side of the converter plugs onto the UK plug fitted to the belt; the other side of the converter plugs into your wall socket. These converters are widely available from good electrical equipment stores (what you need isn't not that uncommon - you'd be doing the same as, for example, someone from the UK who has flown into your country and needs a way of plugging his laptop into your sockets!) The cigarette-lighter connection is the same in all cars so doesn't need a converter.

CE approval:

The 'Enhanced' Slimming Belt has full CE approval. The CE mark is a requirement of European legislation and a sign that the product meets appropriate standards. It is inadvisable to use any personal products that have not been granted a CE mark.