Diet Scams

Why Pills, Gadgets and Other Crap Won't Make You Skinny.
Nothing says "Happy New Year" like a crazy fad diet.

With all the wild creams, patches, gadgets and pills on the market, it's no wonder we think we can eat ourselves into oblivion over the holidays. I'll just use my Shake Weight in January - it's cool.

Where Do You Buy Your Crap?

What we actually purchase when we buy into all this diet nonsense is a false sense of fabulous and lies, lies, lies. We end up more fat, confused and broke than ever before. Americans alone spend over $40 billion a year on weight loss, and the results sure aren't reflected.

So here's the skinny on why the scams are a total waste of your time and what you really need to know before you splurge on something ridiculous.

The Creams

If a cream can magically erase your dimples or shed a pound or two off your thigh, we'd all lather up in lieu of a diet. In reality, cellulite is just excess fat. While losing weight may help diminish the appearance of those unsightly dimples, there is no way to 'spot train' the body in one area and no cream will provide long-term results. The active ingredient in most creams is just caffeine, and although it can stimulate the skin enough to show a minor firming effect, it's not there to stay, babe.

The Pills

Since the supplement industry is not regulated the same way prescription meds are, often times there aren't even clinical trials to substantiate the wild claims made by most diet pill manufacturers. One of the latest crazes is the hCG diet of no more than 500 calories a day, plus injections. Ouch. Research shows that the super-restrictive diet is what really creates the weight loss, not the shots. Ya think? The FDA never approved hCG as a safe weight loss method, so put down the syringes, sister. Before you ingest any diet pill, do your research. There are entire agencies devoted to consumer awareness, since some pills have led to serious health concerns and even death. Yikes.

The Gadgets

Body wraps are the new "it" thing, but what we forget is that the body can hold more than 6 pounds of water. Deplete that water and yes, your skinny jeans suddenly fit. And tomorrow? You're back in those stretchy pants. As for the toning shoes and even the toning pants? (Yes, they make pants with tiny resistance bands sewn right into them.) Those are nonsense too. Remember, you can't lose weight from just one area and the muscle activation created by these fashionable fat shedders is so minimal that, in most cases, the claims are bogus.

The Skinny

The bottom line is that diets don't work - whether they're packaged in cream, pill or gadget form. If your New Year's resolution is to lose weight, start with your diet. Make sure you're getting proper nutrients and come up with a fitness plan that includes tangible goals. It's not brain surgery. Vow to try more vegan recipes if you're not already committed to that lifestyle. Eat a salad and go for a walk.

Diets are trendy. Living healthy is timeless.

Do you have a scary diet scam story? Tell us in the comments section below!


Beth Doane, Contributing Writer
Beth is a fashion designer, author and environmentalist who went from launching high-end European fashion lines to creating her own philanthropic fashion collection, Rain Tees. Her line of tees funds school supplies for children in Central and South America and plants a tree in a tropical rainforest for every item sold. Beth’s consulting agency, Andira International, helps brands build sustainable ideas into products, events and campaigns. Visit raintees.com for more information.