Going on a diet is a common holiday ritual that many people go through each year, but it is important to watch out for bogus diet plans that are advertised through mass media outlets. They include false diet claims that promise quick weight loss, one year after the United States Congress investigated various products endorsed by Dr. Mehmet Oz on "The Dr. Oz Show."
At the 2014 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hearing, Mary Engle reported that the federal agency had taken over 80 law enforcement actions during the past decade that challenged a wide array of weight loss products and services, according to STL Today. That was due to false or unproven claims about their effectiveness.
Based on some studies, two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese. The holiday season boosts the demand for weight-loss products due to all the holiday parties, feasts, and family get-togethers.
However, it is also a perfect time for companies to promote diet scams. The FTC points out on its website that the only healthy way to shed pounds and burn fat is to follow a long-term plan of eating less food and exercising more.
It says that a reasonable weight-loss goal is to lose one pound (.45 kilograms) a week. The FTC warns about products that promise miraculous results without requiring any effort from the dieter.
Several common types of dubious weight loss claims are listed on the FTC's website. They include losing weight while eating favorite foods, burning pounds permanently, losing 30 pounds in 30 days, and using a miraculous pill, cream, or patch to lose weight.
Weight loss can also be very tough for certain people for various reasons. They include genetics, hormones, and particular diseases, according to Las Vegas Sun.
Here are tips for permanent weight loss: