How to spot a diet scam

Experts say the only way to lose weight for the long haul is to burn more calories than you eat, and that process is slow. That means any diet products or program that promises "quick and easy" weight loss without any effort or sacrifice is bound to be bogus. But if that’s not enough to raise your suspicions, here are some frequently used buzz words to watch for, according to the FTC: No Diet! No Exercise!Lose 30 Pounds in 30 DaysEat Your Favorite Foods and Still Lose WeightShrinks Inches Off Your Stomach, Waist, and HipsScientists Announce Incredible Discovery!Revolutionary European Method! Ancient Chinese Secret!Turn On Your Body's Fat-Burning ProcessAutomatically Convert Fat to Lean Trim Muscle!Absorbs FatDeveloped After Years of Secret ResearchNew Scientific/Medical Breakthrough Not only do diet scam pitchmen tend to use the same words in their advertising, the FTC says they also employ some of the same sales techniques, such as:
—Extravagant claims of dramatic, rapid weight loss.—Testimonials from "famous" doctors, researchers, or other medical experts.—Dramatic before-and-after photos depicting substantial weight loss.—Ads that tout the latest trendy ingredient in the headlines.—A footnote hidden somewhere in an ad noting "diet and exercise required.""Any time you are tempted to get a new diet product, my advice would be to look into what the claims are and if they can be substantiated by science," says Mercer. "What people want is a magic bullet and quick fix, and that’s never going to work. If it sounds too good to be true, it is."

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