It’s that time of year when millions of Americans struggle to once again lose some unwanted pounds. And the weight loss business is booming. From pills, potions and programs to gadgets, diet food and drinks, we’re gobbling them up, seeking an easy solution to our weight problems.

Before you open your wallet or dive into a new program, consider this: Of the 50 million Americans who will go on some kind of diet program, a slim percentage will successfully shed the weight and keep it off.

Only 5 to 10 percent of us succeed, but we all contribute to the staggering $40 billion in revenue amassed by the weight-loss industry annually. By the year 2006, revenues are estimated to top $48 billion.

Millions of us succumb to quick-fix claims such as “Eat all you want and still lose weight” or “Melt away fat while you sleep.” We find it hard to believe in this age of scientific breakthroughs and medical miracles that an effortless weight-loss method doesn’t exist. But it doesn’t.

Over the next few days, I’m going to give you 10 things the weight loss companies don’t want you to know. I do this to help you sort through the claims, avoid the scams, and become a more educated consumer of weight loss claims and products.
Misleading Fact #1

Most weight loss product ads are deceiving, so don’t believe everything you read. A lot of the weight-loss advertisements need some toning of their own, according to a report from the Federal Trade Commission.

“False and misleading claims in weight-loss ads are widespread,” declares Richard Cleland, a lawyer with the FTC and lead author of the report.

An FTC review of more than 300 ads from radio, television, magazines and newspapers that ran during 2001-2002 found that a whopping 55 percent made claims promising more than the product or service could likely deliver.

“Consumers really need to read these ads with a big dollop of skepticism,” says Cleland.

“Deceptive ads do nothing to address an individual’s weight problem. If anything, they compound an already serious national health crisis by steering consumers away from weight-loss methods that have demonstrated benefits.”

Claims such as “rapid weight loss”, “no diet or exercise required,” “eat whatever you want” and “take it off and keep it off” are all hot buttons that advertisers use to get consumers to buy their products and services, he says. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Be on the lookout tomorrow for Misleading Fact #2.

Do you want to learn more about how to lose weight and keep it off? I’ve just finished a new ebook on how you can get lasting weight loss results, “The 10 Step Permanent Weight Loss Formula”.

Download your FREE ebook here: Healthy Weight Loss Program

For more on healthy weight loss programs and products go to www.metamorphicweightloss.com

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