"Diet" Products Often Bogus

Q:  I recently saw an advertisement for a diet system claiming that it is an all-natural product with great health benefits and dramatic weight loss results. There were many testimonials from people who had used it and said it helped them change their lives. How would I be able to tell if this type of product was harmful?

A:  The diet business in the US is a multi-billion-dollar industry based on our epidemic of obesity and our fears about never measuring up to a certain (usually impossible) ideal. Unscrupulous marketers will always find a way to push questionable products by preying on the hopes and fears of people who are unhappy with they way they look or feel.

There really is no "magic pill" for weight loss, natural or otherwise, and the old standbys – sensible diet and exercise – will usually contribute much more to good health and weight stabilization.

You should definitely do your homework on the ingredients of any of the "diet" products you plan to eat or drink. If the supplier can't or won't tell you what's in it, you shouldn't buy it or consume it. Some products contain ingredients that have not been proven effective and might even be harmful. You should also ask for scientific evidence of effectiveness, such as results published in a scientific journal. "Evidence" provided only by testimonials is suspect.

Many weight-loss pills and supplements come with plans for diet or exercise that are supposed to help the product do what is promised. In reality, customers who follow these plans are probably losing weight because they are decreasing their calorie intake and/or increasing their activity levels. The "secret blend" likely has nothing to do with it.

"Dear Doctor" is a compilation of patient questions answered by doctors from the Medical College of Wisconsin.