| "Turn your body into a super fat-burning furnace!" | | | | Does the offer include additional free prizes? |
| "Washboard abs in just 5 minutes a day!" | | | | (Buyers Beware Checklist from "Consumerism and |
| "Exciting new development!" | | | | Quackery", IDEA Magazine, May 1998 by Len Kravitz, |
| "Research proven!" | | | | PhD.) |
| If It Sounds To Good Too Be True, It Probably Is. | | | | Online Buying Tips |
| How many times have you heard this? Yet, ads and | | | | You need to have confidence in the company and |
| infomercials can be so seductive, you really want to | | | | product you’re buying online. Does the |
| believe the wild claims they promise, so you may be | | | | company have your best interests at heart? If in doubt, |
| tempted to suspend good judgement and buy into the | | | | search for clues as to their reliability. Do they have a |
| fantasy. Substandard and fraudulent products hurt | | | | phone number? You may want to call to check them |
| more than just your wallet. When a product | | | | out further. Ask a question by e-mail and see how long |
| doesn’t do what it claims to do, | | | | they take to respond. Ask the company for |
| you’ll feel let down. This can lower your | | | | independent research that substantiates their claims |
| self-confidence and can even lead you to believe that | | | | and promises. You can check out the company on the |
| your fitness goals will never be achieved. This article | | | | Better Business Bureau’s Business Report |
| will help you to identify fitness frauds and give you tips | | | | page. Their page states "The Better Business Bureau |
| and resourses on so you’ll be able to make | | | | collects and reports information to help prospective |
| better decisions when buying fitness products. | | | | buyers make informed decisions in dealing with |
| Buyers Beware Checklist | | | | business and charitable organizations." |
| Quackery is not easily detected. Use this checklist | | | | If In Doubt, Ask An Expert |
| before purchasing a product advertised in a mail-order | | | | The media is quick to announce the latest health |
| catalog or on TV. | | | | fitness discovery, regardless of the source. |
| Is the product supported entirely by testimonials? | | | | Unfortunately, this new claim may later be retracted |
| Is there any controlled, randomized scientific evidence | | | | when proper studies are made. But quacks will use |
| supporting the sales claims? | | | | (and misuse) questionable data to convince you to buy |
| Do the experts associated with the program have the | | | | their product. What should you believe? If you |
| proper credentials? | | | | don’t have the time to sort through |
| Is the person selling the product believable? | | | | information dispensed from reputable sources, you |
| Does the promotion use any pseudomedical jargon? | | | | should ask an expert. A certified fitness instructor |
| Does the promotion boast a secret formula or | | | | should be able to separate fact from fiction. |
| answer? | | | | Your Tax Dollars At Work |
| Do the claims seem miraculous or far-fetched? | | | | The Federal Trade Commission says that "consumers |
| Is the product appealing to your vanity? | | | | waste billions of dollars on unproven, fraudulently |
| Does the suggested use of the product seem out of | | | | marketed, and sometimes useless health care |
| keeping with the desired outcome (e.g., "just three | | | | products and treatments." They advise all workout |
| minutes a day toward slimmer thighs")? | | | | "wannabes" to exercise good judgment when |
| Does the fine print contain any disclaimers? | | | | evaluating advertising claims for fitness products. |