It must be the time of year, but there seem to be ads everywhere for those machines that claim to tone muscle using electric pads attached to your body. Do they actually work?
Jeff Holmes, via email

Jason Anderson replies: If by 'working' you mean do they stimulate a muscular contraction then yes, they do. But if you mean will they give you a six-pack then unfortunately they won't.

Everyone has a six-pack but it's covered with a layer of skin and fat that's proportional to our overall composition (body fat percentage). Your body takes fat for energy from wherever it likes and the body fat that's around your middle now is not what will be there in three months (it'll be replaced by different fat, unfortunately).

Fat is broken down and transported via the bloodstream and if it's not used it's re-deposited somewhere else. If you're overweight you're doing something to keep yourself that way. The only way to effectively manage your body fat levels is through exercise and nutrition.