The weight-loss industry is one of the most thriving industries across the world, including the United States.
As unhealthy food habits and lifestyle become more prevalent, diet scammers are also flooding the markets with unsubstantiated products. They promise to catapult your physique without physical efforts. But these tall claims are often misleading.
According to a 2018 study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 50 percent of American youngsters and over 50 percent of women want to look slim and lose weight.
The popular culture inspired Hollywood, and social media fuel these scams with flashy ad endorsements and attractive social posts.
This trend has given rise to an industry of fake or dubious health products that promise the moon but deliver nothing.
Within a few years, the weight-loss industry has grown to over $70 billion in the US.
As per the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) analysis, diet scams account for most health-related scams in the United States.
In this tricky world of the weight-loss industry, it’s important to know how to avoid getting trapped in it.
How to spot a weight-loss scam?
Don’t go by what you see on television or online ads. Mostly, people fall for clever marketing tricks and fail to differentiate between a genuine or a fake product.
Be wary of such false promises by companies. Sometimes, their big promises are nothing but “red flags.”
Don’t go on face value if you spot messages like “clinically proven” or “lab tested” on TV or social media. These messages instill trust and confidence among customers but do not necessarily benefit them.
There are certain ways in which you can spot warning signs before you trust any diet-related product.
What is the modus operandi of companies peddling in-genuine products?
The diet scammers want to look more like the leaders in their segment. So once their product is ready, they create a website that looks almost similar to the genuine ones. Their other task is to ensure the media backs them fully. They also target customers via flashy ads, social media posts, and even create media outlets to produce articles backing their authenticity.
Such companies often can even use hackers to send fake messages to trick customers into buying their products. They lure people by claiming someone in your friend circle or family also benefited from their magical weight-loss product.
What are the warning signs?
Companies that promote such products work on a simple textbook trick — if you can’t convince a customer, confuse them. The biggest trick to fool innocent customers into buying these products is to back it up with scientific claims. But these could be red flags to. Look for such signs before you sign up and lose money on the product that delivers on nothing and pose a risk to your health. Ambiguous claims like “…burn 75 percent more calories” or “shed weight 30 percent faster in one month” may look convincing, but they don’t reveal any background information to evaluate such claims. Ask yourself a question: 75 percent more or 30 percent faster than what?
Where is the other product info with which this information is being compared?
Don’t go by the percent claims but the actual numbers. For example, if a weight-loss product helped lose 6 percent more calories in a day, what is the actual number of calories burned using the product in a day?
How companies trick customers from using clinical data?
Diet scams don’t occur openly. Mostly, such products look legitimate. They follow the most health-related guidelines. They even claim to be backed by the latest clinical research findings. But in hindsight, they don’t.
Analysis of various diet scams reveals that such companies hide their drawbacks behind a bulk of clinical data.
These companies often cite a list of studies to show their credibility. People overlook such data and trust companies’ claims on face value. Don’t overlook such data!
Go through every detail. Data is often too old to support the claim, or studies are conducted on animals that can’t be justified for humans.
How confusing language helps companies hide drawbacks?
All diet-related scams unearthed every year have one thing in common — they confuse readers with language. For example, if a company claims its health product has been tested in the laboratory setting and has shown significant results, can it be genuine?
Not necessarily!
The use of the word “significant” rather than giving actual data is to confuse readers by hiding drawbacks while claiming how useful the product is.
Customers should only trust companies giving out real numbers and facts about their products. Also, be wary of products marketing themselves as “unique,” “first of its kind,” “never before seen,” or “secret formula.”
How genuine are the full money-back guarantee claims?
Companies pushing their dietary products in the market often claim to offer full cashback or return if the product fails to deliver. Those desperate to bring changes in their body go for them in a hurry.
The money-back policies are complicated and vague, and people tend to ignore the minor conditions stated with such claims. If the product fails to meet customers’ expectations, companies show hidden conditions to make it difficult for people to get refunds.
How can you spot diet scams?
An aware customer can make smart choices and avoid getting trapped in diet scams. They just have to look for red flags in companies’ claims.
Always seek more information on the weight-loss product from the company. Go through all minor details concerning their claims. Look at what science has to say on the efficacy of such a product. Consult your physician or any certified body trainer before you choose to buy the product. In essence, one must know that not all weight-loss products are scams. Most of the companies genuinely state what their product can or can’t do. The idea is not to fall for the wrong ones.
