How to Rate Online Weight Loss Sites

Online sites offer a tremendous amount of information, but consumers sometimes find it difficult to sift or decide which sites are credible and which are not. Especially when dealing with complex and potentially hazardous subjects like weight loss, it is important to determine which offer facts and which contain false information. Following are 6 questions to help determine a weight loss site's legitimacy. The more questions you answer yes to, the more likely you should not trust the site.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet access
• Paper and pen

1. Ask "Did I get to this site via an advertisement on an unrelated page?" Many legitimate sites advertise, but most stick to advertising on health, fitness and lifestyle sites. If the page advertised via a site on celebrities or entertainment, especially as an aggressive popup, its owners do not have your best interests at heart.

2. Ask "Does this site make too good to be true claims?" Sites describing diets that let you shed dozens of pounds while drinking a miracle tea, or while eating all the chocolate you want, are based on bad science at best. At worst, they're based on bad intent and chicanery.

3. Ask "Do I have to pay money to access the real information?" Many legitimate businesses make money by selling information to the public. However, most legitimate weight loss sites will have valuable free information on weight loss safety and basics. If the site gives teasers, but asks for your credit card before you can see the information, it is best to pass it by.

4. Ask "Does this site operate independently of a trustworthy source?" The best sources are tied to a legitimate organization, such as a government agency, a medical group or an established health club. In a similar vein, check the "links/resources" section of the site. Are the links to established, trustworthy sites?

5. Ask "Does this site fail to mention the basics of weight loss: healthy diet and exercise?" Any weight loss site that claims you can aggressively lose weight without those two key components is likely a unscientific fad.

6. Ask "Does this site seem designed to sell me a product rather than to help me lose weight?" Good weight loss businesses understand that if they help people, enough of them will support the business for them to make money. Bad weight loss businesses focus on selling the client as much as they can as early as possible, because they know their 'clients' will abandon them as soon as they get poor results.

Tips & Warnings

• A single yes doesn't mean you should abandon a particular site. Like any analytical tool, these questions are to help you make a decision, not make the decision for you.
• Always check with your doctor or wellness professional before starting any new diet or other weight loss program.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Sensa, the Weightloss Plan you've heard about! Try it Now for Free!
• How to Lose 30+lbs Guaranteed. Try it Free.