The Ultimate Weight Loss Red-Flag Guide
Weight Loss Red Flag Guide
Despite claims to the contrary, there are no magic potions or effortless ways to burn off fat. There are thousands upon thousands of weight loss web sites, low carb diets, diet pills and other “so-called experts” that prey on desperate overweight people and use overly optimistic claims that get you to believe and buy into their flat out lies — reaping billions of dollars each year while your left still overweight and looking for answers.
In an effort to help and keep you from falling victim to the countless bogus weight loss claims of all the diet pills and many other weight loss products (essentially saving you money and time), here is a little guide that helps set the record straight as well as provide you with red flags to watch out for when researching or looking for weight loss help and support. A portion of this information is via The United States Federal Trade Commission…
If They Say …”An easy plan for losing up to 13 pounds in two weeks with little or no exercise…A program to let you keep losing”
“These patients started losing weight as soon as they went on the diet within the first week. These patients kept losing too…20, 30 even 50 pounds within months. They kept it off too.”
Sorry, But The Truth Is …Red Flag Claim 1 —
Lose two pounds or more per week (for a month or more) without dieting or exercise.
The Truth –Meaningful weight loss requires consuming fewer calories and/or increasing exercise. Ads that promise substantial weight loss without diet or exercise are false. A claim is false if it states or implies that users can lose lots of weight fast without changing their lifestyles, even if the ad doesn’t mention specific amounts of weight loss or time periods.
If They Say …”Eat cake… a hamburger… toast with butter… and practically anything else you enjoy! This simple plan gets you thin – without sacrificing your favorite foods!”
“One of my overweight patients refused to give up his daily dish of ice cream. As a result of the diet he lost 30 pounds quickly. His weight has stayed off even though he never exercises and he still has his daily ice cream.”
“Lose weight by eating more meals! Astounding reason on page x…”
“You decide how many pieces of meatloaf you want — and the pounds still slip away!”
Sorry, But The Truth Is …Red Flag Claim 2 —
Eat what you want! The more you eat, the more you lose and we’ll show you how.
The truth –It is impossible to eat unlimited amounts of food – any kind of food – and still lose weight. Any claim to that effect in an ad or commercial is false. Some products may help curb appetite or cravings. For these products, its okay to say people can eat what they want so long as it is clear from the ad or commercial that people will not want to eat as much food as before they started using the product.
If They Say …"The Super Fat-Fighting Formula inhibits fats, sugars and starches from being absorbed in the intestines and turning into excess weight, so that you can lose pounds and inches easily."
"These diet pills block fat before your body absorbs it; the pounds will melt away effortlessly."
Sorry, But The Truth Is …Red Flag Claim 3 —
Block the absorption of fat or calories, and lose substantial weight.
The Truth –No fat blocker or diet pills can block enough fat or calories to cause lots of weight loss. Even the very few legitimate fat blockers must be used with a reduced-calorie diet to work.
If They Say …”Got a little extra baggage in your belly… thighs… buttocks? Here’s the only sure way to trim the fat in those “trouble spots.”
“We once thought a diet couldn’t target fat in specific areas of the body. But the “xxx diet” changes that and proves that you can.”
Sorry, But The Thruth Is ..Red Flag Claim 4 —
You Can’t Spot Reduce — Period!
The Truth –You absolutely can’t tell your body where it will lose weight and shed pounds (spot reducing). The notion of a food or diet tricky enough to burn fat in specific areas is flat out ridiculous. You can “build up” specific areas in your body thru weight training, but losing weight in specific areas that you may want to improve is simply NOT possible.
If They Say …”But I have lost 6 pounds the very first week on this new low card diet…”
“I lost 11 pounds the first 2 weeks on this diet.”
“Lose 13 pounds in 2 weeks with this brand new diet — Guaranteed!”
Sorry, But The Truth Is …Red-Flag Claim 5 –Water Weight, Water Weight, and More Water Weight —
The Truth –Glycogen, your primary source for energy, attracts water. Your muscles are mostly made up of water. When you limit your carbohydrate intake, you hold onto less glycogen. Therefore, the initial weight loss you experience is due to water loss from your muscles. This can account for 4-10 pounds in the first week. Rapid water loss is the trick behind these diets. They make it appear quick and easy, while in reality it is a temporary solution.
The Weight Loss Bible is collection of weight loss secrets from the worlds elite fitness professionals, figure models and dietitians. World renowned Liz Guzzo MS, R.D. and Mari Kudla contribute to weight loss magazines such as Muscle & Fitness Hers, Oxygen, and Flex magazines — just to name a few. Their “Weight Loss Bible” has been said to make weight loss … “amazingly simple to understand and easy!” For more info: ultimate-weight-loss-bible.com
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Diet Pills and Consumer Fraud
Diet pills have met with many different fates, and come with many different promises. But at what point does the line between misleading advertising and outright fraud cross? And how long will health products be allowed to cross this line? Some diet pills have proven very effective, but were then found to have serious health side effects. Other diet pills have had short, explosive life spans. And some diet pills just plug right along. But one hallmark that remains true about the diet pill industry is that there’s always some new "breakthrough" with a new set of promises that aren’t easily verified.
Cortislim is one of newer generations of diet pills. Cortislim promised to reduce fat around the abdomen by reducing levels of the "stress hormone" cortisol. In October of 2004, the FTC charged the makers of Cortislim of claiming falsely and without substantiation, that their products can cause weight loss and reduce the risk of, or prevent, serious health conditions.
According to the FTC, the defendants began marketing CortiSlim in August 2003, through nationally disseminated infomercials featuring Cynaumon and Talbott that aired on a number of television channels, including Access Television, Travel Channel, and Discovery Channel. The FTC alleges that the defendants promoted cortisol control as "the answer" foranyone who wants to lose weight, especially abdominal weight. According to the FTC’s complaint, the defendants’ broadcast ads, print ads, and Web sites claimed that persistently elevated levels of cortisol, the "stress hormone," are the underlying cause of weight gain and weight retention and also claimed that CortiSlim effectively reduces and controls cortisol levels and thereby causes substantial weight loss. The FTC alleges that the defendants claimed that CortiSlim: (1) causes weight loss of 10 to 50 pounds for virtually all users; (2) causes users to lose as much as 4 to 10 pounds per week over multiple weeks; (3) causes users to lose weight specifically from the abdomen, stomach, and thighs; (4) causes rapid and substantial weight loss; (5) causes long-term or permanent weight loss; and (6) causes weight loss. The FTC also alleges that the defendants claimed that the effectiveness of CortiSlim and its ingredients is demonstrated by over 15 years of scientific research. According to the FTC’s complaint, these claims are false or unsubstantiated.
Cortislim eventually withdrew their initial advertising, and adopted a tamer approach, but not before lawyers started collecting signatures for a class action suit alleging fraud.Which raises the fundamental question – how long will diet pills and other similar products be allowed to engage in questionable advertising?
Prescription drugs are required to pass many tests to prove their usefulness and safety. But with over the counter and herbal remedies, manufacturers can essentially claim whatever they want of their products without publishing any study results. This creates a scenario where companies nearly have a green light to make outrageous claims about diet products. The makers of Cortislim are said to have made $50 million.
But when the government puts a company in the crosshairs, other lawsuits are nearly always soon to follow. Within a few days of the Vioxx withdrawal, a class action suit was filed. These trends will continue, and if the FTC stays aggressive in pursuing false advertising, the incentives for bad marketing practices on unproven diet pills will decrease.
Rex Ryan maintains the website:
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