How to Avoid Diet Scams
New diet scam advertisements seem to appear almost daily. In a recent WebMD article,The Skinny on Diet Scams, experts warn that even with the new marketing gimmicks, all scam diets are based on bad science. Included among the top five diet scams are: * Metabolism-boosting pills based on herbal ingredients * Fat- and carb- blocking pills * Herbal weight loss teas * Diet patches, jewelry, or other products worn on the body * Body wraps or "slim suits" Overweight Americans looking for a quick fix for weight loss keep the market alive for weight loss scams. Because many of the most popular diet scams contain herbal ingredients, they are not even regulated nor evaluated by the FDA as drugs. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), more than half of the weight-loss ads of 2001 made at least one false or unsubstantiated claim. Unless deaths or other drastic side effects become evident, the dangers of these diets are not reported in the advertisements. A useful FTC weight loss booklet provides guidelines for evaluating weight loss programs, charts for calculating your BMI and associated health risks, and Partnership for Healthy Weight Management membership listing, to include groups such as the Society for Nutrition Education, American Dietetic Association, US Food & Drug Administration Center for Nutrition and Weight Management, and National Institutes of Health.
Summary of Top Five Diet Scams: 1) Metabolism-boosting/calorie-burning pills - these pills appear at the top of diet aid lists, primarily because they are based on herbs, not regulated by the FDA. Two recent exceptions are ephedra and kava. Ephedra was banned by the FDA in 2004 due to increased risk of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, nervousness, tremors, seizures, heart attacks, strokes, and even death. Kava has been linked to severe liver injury, for which the FDA issued a warning in 2002. 2) Fat- and carb-blocking pills - these pills make the body unable to break down nutrients in the body, leading to gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, bloating, and gas, as well as blocking the body's absorption of vitamins. 3) Weight loss teas - although the claims for these teas are based on herbal ingredients, researchers indicate the main ingredient in many is caffeine, which is a diuretic and leads to water loss. The most likely way for weight loss teas to potentially contribute to any weight loss is as a substitute for high-calorie beverages. 4) Diet patches and jewelry - experts say that no effective weight loss drugs can be delivered through skin patches. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that jewelry designed to promote weight loss has no effect and the claims are false. 5) Body wraps or "slim suits" - these sweat suits or fat-melting body wraps all cause water loss from excessive sweating. This is not considered real weight loss because drinking water restores the body's water loss. How to Spot a Diet Scam: If a diet product or progam is labeled "quick and easy," it is probably bogus. According to the FTC, other buzz words to alert consumers include: No Diet! No Exercise!, Scientists Announce Incredible Discovery!, Absorbs Fat, among other extravagant claims. Diet scam salesmen also use techniques such as dramatic before-and-after photos, testimonials from "famous" doctors, and a hidden footnote stating "diet and exercise required." As the old saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, it is."