Tackling A Weighty Subject:

Don’t Look For Diet Miracles

As the holiday season approaches, many people confront some pretty “weighty” questions, like how to enjoy ourselves at holiday parties and dinners without adding extra pounds? Or, how to get into shape for  the New Year?

“If you are planning to be a waist watcher this holiday season, don’t fall victim to new diet or health fads and gimmicks. The only thing you’ll lighten will be your wallet,” cautions Paulette Hotton, president of the Connecticut Better Business Bureau.

Many weight loss promotions promise consumers the loss of several pounds in a week or overnight without shunning their favorite foods or having to exercise.

“Some dieters peg their hopes on pills and capsules that promise to ‘burn,’ ‘block,’  ‘flush’ or otherwise eliminate fat from their system. Some consumers purchase herbal gels or balms that promise to ‘liquefy’ excess fat. And other dieters innocently commit to expensive, ineffective diet plans that have hidden costs,” MsHotton said. “Medical science has yet to come up with a magic pill, potion or food for weight loss. At the very least, before committing to any weight loss product or promotion, consumers should check with their physician, a qualified nutritionist, and/or a registered dietician.”

Advertised offers that promise “breakthrough,” “secret,” “exclusive,” or “miraculous” weight loss are particularly misleading. These words, which often appear in promotions for fraudulent products, are not scientific words. The BBB advises consumers to check on the reliability of a business that makes such claims by contacting the Better Business Bureau or the nearest Food and Drug Administration office (www.fda.org).

The BBB cautions consumers to be particularly skeptical of self-proclaimed health advisors who sell their products by using high-pressure sales tactics and one time only offers. Consumers should also refrain from being tempted by vaguely worded testimonials that cannot be verified. According to the BBB, testimonials should never serve as a substitute for scientific proof of a product’s efficacy.

Extravagant Claims

The BBB and Federal Trade Commission regularly hear from consumers who succumb to enticing claims about weight loss programs and products. The most egregious claims of recent months have been found in e-mail, infomercial and back-to-the-book magazine promotions.

“It’s not even that unusual to find miraculous diet pitches shoved under your windshield wiper when you’re parked in a public place, or tacked to a telephone pole near a busy intersection. With an estimated 48 million Americans on diets each year, there’s a ready audience for these pitches,” Ms Hotton said.

Recent weight loss claims reported to the nation’s 132 Better Business Bureaus and Federal Trade Commission include:

CLAIM: “Lose weight while you sleep.”

FACT: Losing weight requires significant changes affecting what kind of food – and how much – you eat. Claims for diet products and programs that promise weight loss without sacrifice or effort are bogus.

CLAIM: “Immediate, permanent fat-loss.”

FACT: Weight loss requires permanent changes in how you eat and how much you exercise. Claims that you will keep weight off permanently or for a long time usually are baloney.

CLAIM: “John Doe lost 84 pounds in six weeks.”

FACT: Someone else’s claim of weight loss success may have little or no relevance to your own chances of success. Don’t be misled.

CLAIM: “Lose all the weight you can for just $99.”

FACT: There may be hidden costs. For example, some programs do not publicize the fact that you must buy prepackaged meals from them at costs that exceed program fees. Before you sign up for any weight loss program, ask for all the costs in writing.

CLAIM: “Lose 30 pounds in just 30 days.”

FACT: As a rule, the faster you lose weight, the more likely you are to gain it back. In addition, fast weight loss could harm you health. Unless you are under a physician’s care, don’t go for programs that promise quick weight loss.

CLAIM: “Scientific breakthrough. . . medical miracle.”

FACT: To lose weight, you have to reduce your intake of calories and increase your physical activity. Be skeptical of extravagant claims.

“Remember, any quick fix is likely to be a long-term failure. Diet pills and other weight loss products are, at best, only temporary or partial measures. Long-term weight loss requires a permanent change in eating habits and regular exercise,” said Ms Hotton.

The Better Business Bureau system is a partner in the Partnership for Healthy Weight Management. For access to additional helpful information on weight loss products or services, visit www.consumer.gov/weightloss or write: Federal Trade Commission, Consumer and Business Education Office, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.