Blog

Frauds

Americans regularly fall victim to fraudulent weight-loss products. These include nonprescription drugs, dietary supplements, skin patches, creams and gadgets. They're often advertised as providing rapid weight loss without the need for diet and/or exercise.

Add to that the fact that consumers are easily frustrated because of what they read, watch and hear in the news. One day they may see a headline touting a nutritional "breakthrough," and the next week they hear about something totally different.

So, how do you distinguish fact from fiction? For starters, remember that nutrition is a science that involves biochemistry, biology, human physiology, anatomy and food chemistry. As with advances in medicine and pharmacology, rigorous research needs to be done before dietary guidelines are recommended.

When you hear something about a recommendation, such as using lychee fruit to reduce belly fat, consider the source. Is the person offering this advice a credentialed health professional with specific training in nutrition?

Trained nutrition professionals have degrees in nutrition, dietetics, public health or related fields. They have supervised clinical experience, have passed a national exam and are required to pursue continuing education. In Delaware, nutritionists must be licensed.

Or, if you read about new research -- such as the 47 people who drank chocolate milk and had a lower risk for heart disease -- you need to consider the size of the study. One this small generally constitutes a preliminary or pilot study.

Health information and dietary recommendations need to be viewed cautiously. The Food and Nutrition Science Alliance, a coalition of professional nutrition and scientific societies, offers the following 10 red flags of junk science:

1. Recommendations that promise a quick fix.

2. Dire warnings of danger from a single, complex study.

3. Claims that sound too good to be true.

4. Simplistic conclusions drawn from a complex study.

5. Recommendations based on a single study.

6. Dramatic statements disputed by reputable scientific organizations.

7. Lists of "good" and "bad" foods.

8. Recommendations made to help sell a product.

9. Recommendations based on studies published without peer review.

10. Recommendations from studies that ignore differences among individuals or groups.

Before making any drastic changes to your diet or following nutrition advice from a questionable source, talk with your health care provider or a licensed nutritionist.