The Anatomy of a Diet Scam

I'm sure you've seen the ads on your homepage to your email or facebook accounts.  They are always very similar.  Most recently, this one popped up about Rachel Ray losing 27 pounds in 4 weeks, and 47 pounds in 2 months with Raspberry Ketone Extract!

Last week, Rachel Ray lost 27 pounds with the Green Coffee Bean Diet.

Last month it was the African Mango Extract Diet.

These are all diet scams that all read the same.  Let's take a look at the anatomy of a diet scam.

1.  They appear in highly visible spaces:  facebook ads and magazines.  No wonder, as they target women in the 20-50 age market.
2.  A celebrity (in this case, Rachel Ray) gets your attention.  What many people don't know is that Rachel did not give her endorsement of this product.
3.  A celebrity doctor (in this case, Dr. Oz) to give credibility to the product.  These are associations, not endorsements, and often are without permission.
4.  Astounding claims of weight loss.  27 pounds (see Rachel Ray above) in 4 weeks is 7 pounds a week, double to triple what is medically advised for weight loss.
5.  A medical journal (in this case, The Journal of Lipids in Health and Disease - Lipids in Health and Disease is an open access, peer-reviewed, online journal that publishes articles on all aspects of lipids: their biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, role in health and disease, and the synthesis of new lipid compounds.; is cited to give credibility to the product.
6.  A review of "we were skeptical" so we put it to the test ourselves appears in all advertisements.
7.  A success story of an individual who bought the products and achieved results.
8.  A description of what products were necessary for the weight loss.  In all cases, the product, whether Raspberry Ketone Extract, African Mango Extract, and/or Green Coffee Bean were all combined with a colon cleanse product. (With further research, they give you a very specific calorie restricted plan to adhere to for results and for proper effect of the colon cleanse; they just don't "advertise" the special restricted diet because it would be a turn off for many who want a quick and easy pill for weight loss.)
9.  A great offer - too good to be true - buy for the low, low price (and then you get on a monthly subscription at the regular price of course.)
10.  Supplies limited.  It says it every month.  Order now before supplies are gone.

So, now you have it.  The anatomy of a diet scam.  Next time you see an advertisement for weight loss that sounds too good to be true, without diet or exercise, run.  Run very fast in the other direction.

Live and eat 365fitt,
Coach Kathy