Shark Tank India’s weight loss startup is being criticized

• Sass Fat to skinny Is a startup that claims to provide diet plans for Weight loss that do not require any exercise.
  
• All of the judges backed out from investing in the startup.
  
• Sharks Namita Thapar and Anupam Mittal called it for promoting unhealthy diets.

Among the many stadiums featured in the first season of Shark tank IndiaAnd One of the most unusual products was Navel Fukai aka Belly Button Shaper, which ended up being rejected by the entire panel. In Season 2, it was SAS Fat to Slim’s turn to be criticized by all the judges who called the startup’s no-workout weight loss plan “dangerous” and “geeky”.

Founded by Shikha Aggarwal Sharma, SAS Fat to Slim is a Delhi-based startup that promotes weight loss through diet plans and no exercise. According to Sharma, in losing weight, diet makes up 80% of the difference, and exercise contributes only 20%.

But Shark Namita Thapar, CEO at Emcure Pharmaceuticals, called the product nothing more than a gimmick.

“How can you say ‘no exercise’? I basically don’t agree with your theory. Let’s spread the message that weight loss occurs by changing one’s lifestyle. Our country is turning into a capital of diabetes, and a capital of blood pressure because people do such activities” I am sorry but when I hear such allegations, I am outraged. I think we need to stop misleading the country,” Thapar said.

Multiple reports echo Thapar’s sentiments. Doctors and other experts regularly recommend a combination of exercise, controlled diet, and other lifestyle aids to combat weight gain.

“Your diet is like poison”

Sharma shared how she thinks a diet dominated by soups and salads—which needs extra time to prepare—was a luxury. But SAS Fat to Slim focused on readily available products, which were created with her weight loss experience and knowledge of diet and nutrition.

However, Sharks refuted her claims. Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal shared that he has studied little about diabetes and the effect of sugar on human bodies, and criticized the typical diet which Sharma shared with a diabetic.

According to Macronutrients, you’re recommending a carbohydrate diet because you haven’t recommended protein yet. Mittal noted that it is akin to poison for diabetics.

According to reports, one in six Indians suffers from diabetes. Shafi Kohli, Senior Diabetes Educator and Nutrition Expert at Medanta the Medicity, Gurgaon, also shared with Business Insider India that “There is no special diet for diabetes. The whole idea is to nourish the body by eating various nutrients in the right proportions at the right time.” .

Mittal also added that all bodies are different, and while Sharma’s plan worked for her, it could be dangerous for others. “You selflessly reduced the weight and that’s great. But now you’re filling the same mold that works for you for other people. It can be dangerous,” Mittal shared.

‘Investment will make things worse’

Although Sharma defended her business by sharing that customers have benefited from her products, sharks have been wary.

Mittal retracted his objection to the founder and did not find his business investable. Sugar Cosmetics co-founder Vineeta Singh also backed up, adding that it doesn’t align with Sharma’s core business proposition — losing weight without exercise.

Lenskart co-founder Peyush Bansal, meanwhile, backtracked, saying he didn’t think the startup needed any investment.

“Investing will only make things worse. You will have ROI (return on investment) pressure after the investor has invested, which will get you stuck in a vicious circle that can affect the authenticity of the diet,” Bansal said.

Gupta also backtracked on quoting fellow Shark Thapar – that he had no experience in the field.

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