We've all seem them. Corny, too-good-to-be-true diet and weight loss infomercials have a strong presence in today's television programming.
I spent some time viewing different infomercials on Youtube and came across this one for the Hollywood 48 Hour Miracle Diet. Take a look.
This commercial fails to use several of the principles of scientific thinking. The extraordinary claim that this product can help you lose up to ten pounds in only two days does not provide enough strong evidence to support it. Expecting to lose ten pounds by drinking this miracle concoction is a pretty ambitious (if not impossible) goal. Plus, the infomercial states that this diet is "safe and effective", and yet physicians typically recommend that people on a diet lose 1-2 pounds per week. Hmmm. In order to fully support this diet, I think it would require more than just testimonials from supposed users of the product.
Even if there does seem to be a correlation between using this product and effective weight loss results, I am highly skeptical that the product has a direct effect on weight loss results. In other words, correlation is not the same as causation. There are likely other variables at work. I'm sure the Hollywood 48 Hour Miracle Diet works if you give it more time...and complement the diet with plenty of exercise and a balanced diet. But then again, so will pretty much any other weight loss plan.
That video is absurd! I can't believe anyone would actually buy into it. It sounds dangerous to lose 10 pounds in 2 days also. The way they portray the woman in the bikini is also an icon that causes some women to turn to drastic eating disorders to look like the women exhibited in advertisements like this one.
These ads always bother me. I would say that every time I watch a television show there is at least 2 weight/diet commercials and almost all of them come off as a scam to me. They may seem like they are a product that may work, but it just seems so unhealthy most of the time.
The correlation and causation is a good point. Though there may be a correlation between that diet and the loss of weight, how do viewers know that it wasn't caused by something like extreme exercise or some surgery?
These ads always get me. They definitely fall into the extraordinary claims, extraordinary evidence category. I always get a little excited whenever I see because who doesn't think they can lose a few extra pounds and who doesn't want to do it quickly and painlessly? But, as you pointed out, it is for sure a cause when anyone who is interested in the product for more than the time the ad is on, has to do further research on the product and weight loss in order to make an informed health decision.
Video's like this are crazy. I once heard a phrase referring to being too good to be true. If it quacks, has feathers, and web feet; it is duck, there is no possibility that it is something other than a duck. Some people think that such outrageous ideas will actually work and these gullible people are the reason companies keep selling crazy ideas.
Yuck! This is pseudoscience at its worst! Like you said, it's SO dangerous to try and lose that much weight in a week--let alone 48 hours. You applied all of the principles of scientific thinking well. Maybe we can examine this "instant gratification" mentality in later psychology chapters?
Great job! I enjoyed your post a lot.
I simply do not understand how anyone would want to buy this product just after watching this video. Like line0052 said this is complete pseudoscience. Do people actually fall for this these type of things? My mother always told me it is all about a balanced diet and exercise, and I am going to stick with her on this one.
Thanks for the good laugh with this video post!
I think it's interesting how often these commercials come up! How do they get so many people with "positive testimonials" about their weight-loss products?! I remember one company who claimed to have had a client lose so many pounds in a short amount of time was sued because the client they used as a testimonial was actually pregnant and her lost weight was due to giving birth. Crazy what people do these days to try and make some money! good post!
This video and it's claims remind me of some of the things we learned about pseudoscience in like chapter 2. The extraordinary claims and the lack of examples in the video are pseudoscience at its finest (or worst!). I thought this was a really interesting post that you connected very well to some of the things we learned about in class.
When an ad-which is hard to trust in the first place-fails to give any real explanations or evidence other than that of anecdotal nature, it is hard to believe. Like you stated, it is unhealthy to lose the weight described in that time period and would not be worth the risk.
I find it hard to believe people make these, let alone buy them! It's obviously too good to be true, as it promises way too many extraordinary claims. What really bothers me, though, is the fact that people make it in the first place. Knowing it's pseudoscience, I can only assume they market it to scam people, and that does not sit well with me.