What You Need to Know About Weight Loss Scams

Illustration: Lehel Kovács Facebook Twitter LinkedIn In this story Weight loss business • Hidden dangers • Ozempic and Wegovy • Influencer ads • Red flags • Protect yourself • Reporting

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Americans spend big money on weight loss — the industry generates $3.8 billion a year, according to IBISWorld, a market research company. That kind of cash tempts scammers. In 2023, the

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received nearly 18,000 reports of fraud associated with diet products, plans and centers.

It’s not just that the supplement you buy may not work; it may not even be safe. “I think people (believe) just because something is on a shelf, that means that the Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) has reviewed the product before it’s marketed,” says Cynthia Ng, head of the agency’s fraud drugs branch.

The FDA approves prescription drugs, Ng says, but dietary supplements — including keto gummies and other products that are supposed to fight fat — are not reviewed by the FDA before being

sold to the public. Some supplements may be tainted and dangerous; others may be completely ineffective and a waste of money.

Experts recommend talking to a medical professional before using any weight loss product. 

Your doctor is likely to tell you that although there are effective strategies for weight loss, there’s no magic pill. “Right now, there is no data on any food (or) any supplement that it

has any significant benefit for chronic weight management,” says Ethan Lazarus, M.D., head of Clinical Nutrition Center in Denver and past president of the Obesity Medicine Association.

Hidden ingredients in diet supplements

In 2023, the FDA sent out four warnings to consumers regarding undeclared ingredients in weight loss supplements. One, Alfia Weight Loss Capsules, had a controlled substance, sibutramine,

hidden among the “natural” ingredients. This drug not only poses a significant risk for people with a history of heart problems; it can have life-threatening interactions with other

medications.