Americans spend billions of dollars each year on nutritional supplements and weight loss products. Many of these are not necessary or effective. Some are even dangerous. Unfortunately, false claims and misleading information posted on social media may contribute to their popularity. As you scroll through content on the Internet, consider these “warning signs” that what you are reading may not be entirely truthful:
Warning sign 1: Promise of quick or dramatic results
A serious or chronic illness can rarely be cured in a short time. Likewise, there is no one food or supplement that can prevent disease. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Warning sign 2: Personal stories
The positive experiences of a few people do not provide strong evidence about the safety or effectiveness of a product for others. This requires scientific studies conducted by experts who are objective.
Warning sign 3: Promotions by health professionals
Credentialed health professionals typically do not sell or endorse specific brands of dietary supplements or weight loss products. Instead, their role is to provide accurate and relevant information so that patients can make decisions that match their personal goals and priorities.
Before buying a supplement or weight loss product, ask the advice of your family’s health care provider or a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). These experts can help you to decide if the product would be of benefit to you.
To learn more, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website on nutrition misinformation and fraud and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's website on health fraud scams.
This article was written and reviewed by Rethink Your Drink Nevada’s team of dietetic professionals. If you have a suggestion for a topic for the Insider, write to RethinkYourDrinkNevada@unr.edu, and receive a free, healthy drink recipe book.
Justine Habibian, Ph.D., R.D.N., is a research assistant professor with Rethink Your Drink, a program offered by the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources' Department of Nutrition in collaboration with Extension.
The program is funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP. SNAP provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help you buy nutritious foods for a better diet. To find out more, contact 800-992-0900.
