Weight loss ads on the web

[Mully79]

I keep seeing these weight loss web ads all over the place, claiming you can lose X amount of lbs within 1 or 2 weeks, free samples etc. They're something to do with acai berry tablets I think combined with something else.

Anyway - has anyone actually tried this and had it work? The reason I ask is, from the pics there is a noticeable difference in the "before" and "after" but I bet if I sucked my stomach in I could simulate the same thing. And because the advertisements are all over the bloody place, I thought perhaps if it's some sort of a scam they would not be allowed to advertise such tosh, how are they regulated? They are on Hotmail ads and various other places so not just obscure websites.

[samuelcat]

I have not nor never will try these products.
They do say, "if its too good to be true it probably is".
Im guessing all they do is make you go to the loo a hell of a lot.
I dont think they are breaking any laws tho which is strange.
Best thing to do is healthy diet and exercise. Cheap and effective.

[another-view]

They are breaking no laws. Chocolate cake can be advertised as a diet aid, as part of a calorie controlled diet.

[Mully79]

I always assumed there was some sort of law to protect the gullible from these sorts of claims although they may not be technically lying (especially as they can always put as a disclaimer "should be taken in addition to exercise and low cal diet" etc).

The chocolate cake diet sounds right up my street though :o) Guess I'd have to pack in about 5 hours of solid exercise per day with that one!

[barry1010]

Mully79, the NHS is trying everything to help obese patients to lose weight, with proven drugs and various healthy eating an exercise programmes. If these things worked, don't you think the GP would prescribe or recommend them?

[pastafreak]

I came across an ad the other day claiming that a new miracle variety of some common ingredient would help you to loose as much as 2st in 2 weeks......lol There were 'testimonials' that seemed to come only from people with perfect bodies.
Supposedly it attacked and 'melted' fat cells.......yeh,right!!

[smurfchops]

If these miracle weight loss plans were true, there would be a lot more skinny people out there. There will always be a portion of society who are gullible and waste their money on cons like this. Don't be fooled. Healthy eating with less sugar and fat and exercise every week ... that's the only way ... unless there is a hormone problem which is unlikely. Good luck .. and don't waste your money .. spend it on some fruit !!

[Mully79]

Thanks for you replies. Barry, if it genuinely did work but there were unpleasant side effects or a bit like the Atkins, isn't particularly healthy although it did induce weight loss then no, it would be unlikely a GP would recommend.

I just find it hard to believe that they are allowed to advertise so openly like this, but as another-view points out, I suppose it breaks no laws although surely there should be some level of regulation - I've not seen these kinds of things in any magazine / paper recently that I recall, so maybe you can get away more with this sort of thing on the web than in print or TV?