Dr. Oz Will Tell Congress about Weight Loss Scams
No one could make this up. Dr. Mehmet Oz is scheduled to appear at a Senate hearing on weight loss scams next week. He certainly is an expert on the subject.
On his popular medical advice show, in just five years Oz has promoted no fewer than 16 miracles for weight loss. The list includes such things as green coffee extract, garcinia cambogia, raspberry ketone, and HCG. Oz often plays both sides of the conversation about some of these frauds. On HCG, for example, he expressed skepticism and then later said:
I am feeling more comfortable. I do feel there’s still a lot we have to learn about why it works, but I’ve got to say it makes a difference to a lot of people, and it seems to very carefully allow you to lose weight without burning a lot of muscle.
The leading scientific society devoted to obesity, The Obesity Society, published a position statement in 2013 stating that HCG is ineffective for weight loss and obesity treatment. The FDA agrees.
Yet those who have the stomach for it can watch the spectacle of a hearing with Oz posturing as a scientific expert on obesity and weight loss. He’s there because of a $34 million FTC settlement on fraudulent green coffee bean extracts. They were promoted with assertions that Dr. Oz supported their use. Oz promoted the use of green coffee extract for weight loss on his show. But at the same time his spokesman claimed that ads promoting specific green coffee bean extract products with Oz’s name were “rogue.”
Yes, there is a rogue at work here.
Click here and here to read more about the hearing. Click here to read about Oz and his track record on weight loss miracles.
Pot Calling the Kettle Black, Photograph © Petras Gagilas / flickr
Subscribe by email to follow the accumulating evidence and observations that shape our view of health, obesity, and policy.
June 13, 2014 at 6:28 am, Mary-Jo said:
Appropriate picture! Nothing screams black kettle more than this! It actually makes me feel queasy that Dr.Oz gets to represent such a crucial topic to government officials. Hate to say it, but this is just another example of how gullible and vulnerable even supposedly powerful, smart people are to the glow of fame, money, and hype. Why can’t someone like Jim Hill or Bill Dietz or even Ted Kyle (!) be representing the dilemma of flagrant scams and quacks!
June 13, 2014 at 6:44 am, Ted said:
I agree with you Mary-Joe. This hearing may be more about getting media attention than accomplishing something of substance.
June 13, 2014 at 8:54 am, JK said:
He is the authority on this!
June 13, 2014 at 12:33 pm, Ted said:
Ha!
June 13, 2014 at 9:13 am, Julie Gettys said:
Dr. oz is the world’s leading proponent of pushing weight loss scams. I stopped watching his show because I fell prey to many of the “miracle” weight loss pills he’s pushed. All of them ended up half-empty in the garbage with my wallet a bit thinner. I wrote to him about this, but no response. Of course! He’s the last person to speak to congress on this subject.
June 13, 2014 at 12:34 pm, Ted said:
Well-said.
June 13, 2014 at 9:25 am, Lisa said:
Dr Oz holds a very powerful influential position as a so called medical expert when he has simply become a TV personality without taking responsibilty for what he says and represents.
He was cardio thoracic surgeon and no more qualified than your mailman to give medical advice on obesity.
June 13, 2014 at 12:34 pm, Ted said:
Sigh
June 13, 2014 at 7:07 pm, Julie said:
As others have stated, he is the leading expert on weight loss scams- he’s promoted and /or escalated numerous ones over the last few years. A couple years ago I had an intern cost out what taking all the weight loss supplements Dr Oz was promoting that month would cost. It was in excess of $250/week!