Weight Loss Scams and Spams Should Make You Mad!

 

Weight loss scams and spams are inescapable! They’re on telephone poles, there in your email, they’re all over your favorite pages on the Internet. Heck, they’re all over EVERY page on the Internet, they’re in the magazines you read and in the newspapers you buy.

Some make claims that are just too big for even the most desperate, gullible people to believe. Some seem to be too good to be true, but also not so outrageous that it’s not worth spending some time and money to check them out.

I’ll tell you why I’m so mad about spamming and scamming. It’s not the sleazy way of making money. It’s the heartless way it preys on people who already hate themselves. People who blame themselves for being fat. They think they’re weak, undisciplined and disgusting. They become increasingly self-loathing every time they put faith into yet another “fail proof” weight loss solution that, yes, failed majorly!

Here are my suggestions for avoiding the scams.Don't be mad at your scale. Direct your anger to the real reason why you haven't lost weight. Get mad at weight loss scams and spams!

Don’t be mad at your scale and definitely don’t get mad at yourself! Direct your anger to the real reason why you haven’t lost weight. Get mad at weight loss scams and spams!

1. If you’re thinking about trying any weight loss plan you see as a comment on my or any other blog, Don’t! Any legitimate program simply would not sink to promoting by writing comment posts on blogs. 

2. First person endorsements are only good when the person making the claim can back up that claim with empirical evidence. If it’s just somebody claiming to lose a lot of weight in a short period of time, don’t waste your time with it.

3. Claims of easy, effortless, fast weight loss are usually false. If your goal is to reduce your weight and sustain a lower weight, losing weight quickly is rarely lasting. Reject any program or product that promises results that seem to good to be true because they are too good to be true.

4. You should be able to get information about the people who created the product or program. Who are they and what are their qualifications?

5. Avoid any program with a list of forbidden foods or food groups. Although you may decide for yourself to avoid some foods, your food plan should not. If it does, it’s a scam or at best, a fad.

6. Claims of efficacy should be backed up with empirical evidence and you should not be lead to believe that every person who uses the plan or product will realize the same level of success.

7. Be wary of any contracts. If you do sign a contract read it carefully to ensure you understand all of the conditions contained within. You especially want to know the entire amount of money you are agreeing to pay, the terms of payment, and the length of time covered by the contract. Also be very sure you aren’t signing away your rights if illness or injury should occur as a result of the program or product.

8. Only permanent lifestyle changes, such as making healthful food choices and increasing physical activity, promote long-term weight loss. Products and programs have to be a fit with your life now and forever to expect reaching and maintaining goal. Promises that you will “lose weight and keep it off forever” are not to be believed. I repeat: Only permanent lifestyle changes, such as making healthful food choices and increasing physical activity, promote long-term weight loss.

 

Jackie Conn

About Jackie Conn

Jackie Conn is married and has four grown daughters and four grandchildren. She is a Weight Watchers success story. She's a weight loss expert with 25 years of experience guiding women and men to their weight-related goals. Her articles on weight management have been published in health, family and women's magazines. She has been a regular guest on Channel 5 WABI news, FOX network morning program Good Day Maine and 207 on WCSH.