How To Spot Bogus Celebrity Endorsed Diet Supplements: 7 Key Signs

Bogus Celebrity Endorsed Diet Supplements

Do we need a supplement for every problem? Bogus diet supplements are everywhere and often pedaled by celebrities. Their celebrity status adds more appeal to the supplement because so many of us wish we had that celebrity edge – the looks, success, money, likeability, and status. David saw the new infomercial by Tony Horton and wants to share his insights on this bogus product. This product has all 7 key signs of why a diet fails. If supplements are not the answer, what can we do instead?

Highlights of this episode:

• Tony Horton’s new bogus diet supplement
• 7 key signs of bogus diets
• Why bogus diets sell
• How consistency is key

Episode Show Notes*:

*not a transcript

[01:38] Tony Horton’s New Bogus Diet Supplement

Tony Horton’s new bogus diet supplement infomercial reminded David of his past experience with his parents’ illnesses.  Before David was a dietitian nutritionist, he sought holistic remedies for his sick parents. This came out of a place of love but the holistic remedies were not helpful. Tony’s new infomercial has so many promises directed towards the elderly that are bogus. David challenges what Tony is selling.

[09:07] Bogus Diets Sell Promises

Tony had a medical condition that he recovered from. Now, he is now using his status to sell a product through testimonial evidence and misrepresenting research. Tony is the founder of P90X, a high intensity exercise program. His status as a 63 year old man with defined muscles, low body fat, and leanness is a visual  marketing tool that makes some people think, if I want to look like him, I have to follow his plan. His infomercial promises a miraculous cure for muscle building without exercise or a strict diet.

[16:35] Bogus Because It Lacks Truth

Tony is selling a protein drink supplement that contains a molecule called HBM, hydroxymethylbutyrate. HBM is created when your muscles are broken down to rebuild muscle. This process happens during exercise. The idea that by just adding in more HBM into your system will help muscles magically grow is absolutely bogus. Functional fitness cannot be replaced by any molecule. Tony’s promise to have his type of body by just drinking this supplement reeks of the 7 signs that a diet will not work!

[18:50] 7 Key Signs of Bogus Diets

Tony’s new product is definitely a diet culture product. David explained the 7 signs diets do not work in Episode 111. Let’s apply them to Tony’s infomercial.

#1 Unsustainable: are you really going to pay for this expensive supplement and drink it every day?

#2 The bad science: it was funded by the HBM supplement company, not the NIH like Tony claims. It was a good study, but not generalizable. HBM is unclear on its efficacy to build muscles.

#3 It’s a supplement: if a supplement was all it took, why would we need food, sleep, movement, hygiene, and connection? While some people require specific supplements to aid them, supplements are not a magic bullet for any problem.

#4. It’s an extreme. No exercise, Tony? That’s so funny because you sold extreme exercise for years! This is just the opposite extreme.

#5 Unrealistic. Too good to be true. The idea you can live forever young, thin, and lean by taking a supplement is absolutely unrealistic and therefore, bogus.

#6 Endorsements from celebrities. Not only is Tony a celebrity, he name drops other famous people. This is an intentional marketing tool because most of us want to have something celebrities have.

#7 Increased desires . The reviews said the supplement was BS because customers had no results. The product does not taste good apparently either. By focusing on chasing the thin and young ideal, unattainable desires create damage to ourselves.

[25:32] Consistency is Key

Supplements like this are not the answer. However, Tony mentioned consistency. Consistency is something Tony and David do agree on. Be curious about what you can commit to and hopefully that is a sustainable change for you! By the way, few of us are taught that our body naturally changes and how beautiful that is.

Resources:

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Chop the diet mentality; Fuel Your Body; and Nourish Your Soul!