Dr. Kilimanguru did not recommend Kohayo Nutritious Cereal for weight loss

Claim: Winston Kilimanjaro Tiwaquen, more commonly known as Dr. Kilimanguru, recommended Kohayo Nutritious Cereal for dieters and obese people.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The post containing the claim has 255 shares, over 1,000 comments, and 11,000 reacts, as of writing.

The bottom line: Dr. Kilimanguru has denied endorsing products like Kohayo Nutritious Cereal on his verified Facebook page. The page pretending to be Dr. Kilimanguru that is endorsing Kohayo is fake and unrelated to him.

Evidence-based: The licensed medical doctor has been creating educational health videos on Facebook and TikTok since June 2020. His content often includes a list of resources that support his claims. He also includes thorough explanations with appropriate disclaimers when needed. 

The Facebook page impersonating the doctor, created last May 28, does no such thing.

Insufficient proof: Kohayo is not approved by our Food and Drug Administration. There is also no evidence that it has been recommended by the Japan Nutrition Research Institute. 

The website included in the post claims that the product has freeze-dried fruits and nuts that can be considered healthy. These ingredients alone however, do not guarantee weight loss. Losing weight, especially to treat obesity, can be tricky. 

The World Health Organization defines obesity as the “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health.” It is a complex health problem. Its treatment, under the supervision of a health professional, can include:

• Dietary changes
• Increased physical activity
• Behavioral therapies
• Medication
• Weight loss surgery

To effectively and safely lose weight, an overall lifestyle change is recommended. – Pola Regalario/Rappler.com

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