How to Avoid Diet Scams

Diet scams are everywhere today. From empty promises to dangerous schemes, it has become difficult to discern what systems can actually do some good and which ones are simply a waste of time and money. Diet scams prey on the desperation of people looking for a quick fix to their weight problems and often are just the same old recycled diets with a few new twists.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Avoid diets that tell you can eat as much as you want as long as you take a specific pill or drink during the day. Weight loss is based on calories consumed and burned, and even though some products can block a certain percentage of fat from being absorbed by the body, you still need to watch what you eat.

2. Be wary of guarantees and promises. Everybody is different, and a diet that works for somebody may not work for others with a different metabolism and lifestyle. That is why a good weight loss program should be tailored to each individual and adjusted periodically to account for additional weight loss or changes in lifestyle.

3. Read the small print. The easiest way to avoid diet scams is to make sure you understand what you are getting into. If you are basing your decision to use a specific diet on the photos provided but the small print reads “exceptional results,” this probably means you are not likely to end up looking like that.

4. Avoid diets that promise a quick fix. It takes a lot of work to lose a pound, the equivalent of 3500 calories. The average person can lose up to 2 pounds a week by exercising vigorously and adhering to a strict food system. Any diet that wants you to believe you can lose a lot more is more than likely a scam.

Tips & Warnings

• Diets that tell you to forfeit a whole food group or reduce it to a minimum may be dangerous. If you suffer from diabetes, heart problems or other medical conditions, adopting a healthy eating plan is better than giving up carbohydrates or fat.