At
recent Senate hearing discussing false
diet-product ads, many Senators criticized Dr. Oz after his testimony, according to
an NBC News article "How the
'Dr. Oz Effect' Has Hooked American Consumers" .
The article states: "On air, Oz
talks up certain foods, drinks, supplements or other products –- often with little science to
support them."
NBC
News reports that "The FTC says it’s been
struggling since 1927 to battle fake diet claims. But the Internet has made
things worse than ever and it’s often near impossible to track down fraudsters
who hide behind shell companies and post office box addresses. And celebrity endorsements haven’t helped, said the
FTC’s Mary Koelbel Engle.
Due
to Dr. Oz's popularity, his ever growing empire and influence on the
supplements market, which is providing him
significant financial gain, other companies have been trying to get a
part of that market, by pitching similar products or even Dr. Oz's
products without his
approval, while blatantly declaring Oz's endorsements for this products.
[NOTE: I used to work in a vitamin store.
We used to joke and say that if we could have the schedule for Dr. Oz's
program, other TV appearances, magazine articles, and stock those
products he would promote we would be in good retail shape. People
inevitably came in asking for "that thing that Dr. Oz was talking about
the other day on TV." Green coffee beans and raspberry ketones
literally flew off the shelf.]
In a
statement after the hearing, Oz said “I was pleased that the hearing dealt with
some complicated issues and had all the players present whose cooperation will
be necessary to move forward in protecting the consumer. For years I felt that because I did
not sell any products that I could be enthusiastic in my coverage and I believe
the research surrounding the products I cover has value."
"...within weeks of an April 2012 Dr. Oz Show touting green
coffeebean extract as a miracle fat burning pill that works for everyone, the
marketers of the Pure Green Coffee dietary supplement took to the Internet
making overblown claims — like ‘lose 20 pounds in four weeks’ and ‘lose 20
pounds and two to four inches of belly fat in two to three months’ — for their
dietary supplement," she said.
Some of Oz’s more outrageous claims include: Calling
green coffee extract a “magic weight loss cure.” Raspberry ketone was “the
number one miracle in a bottle to burn your fat.” He said Garcina cambogia “may
be the simple solution you’ve been looking for to bust your body fat for
good.”
“I took part in today's hearing because I am accountable for my
role in the proliferation of these scams and I recognize that my enthusiastic
language has made the problem worse at times. In addition to exercising an abundance of caution in discussing
promising research and products in the future, I look forward to working with
all those present today in finding a way to deal with the problems of weight
loss scams.”
Oz's statement was met by skepticism by many
doctors, such as Dr. Eric J.
Topol, director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute in La Jolla, CA.
Topol notes “He’s well aware that
these companies are promoting things without any evidence of (benefits), but he
doesn’t do anything to preempt it,” said.
“He can claim it’s all done unwittingly, or unknowingly, and
that these things are being taken out of context. But his own shows demonstrate
that is not that case,” Topol added. “This has been perpetuated for a long
time. These things he calls 'miracles,' for example. What do you think is going
to happen when you call something a miracle and there is absolutely no
evidence?” The real magic, Topol
said, is the size of Oz’s viewing audience.
Many Senators were also critical: Senator Claire McCaskill further
chastised Oz telling him, McCaskill asked
why Oz didn’t use his show to promote what actually has been proven to help
people lose weight — careful eating and exercise.
“The scientific community is almost monolithic against you in
terms of the efficacy of a few products that you have called miracles,” she
added. “I just don’t understand why you need to go there … You are being made
an example of today because of the power you have in this space.” She also also rebuked
media companies that run the ads.
One issue I haven't seen addressed anywhere: You may well know
that Dr. Oz is, besides being "America's Doctor" (according to Oprah) vice-chairman of the department of
surgery at the Columbia University College of Physicians and
Surgeons in New York. My question: How can one person claim to have
so much oversight and clarity over so large a marketplace, while at the same
time holding a prestigious position at a top U.S. medical facility?
You can read the report, "Bad Ads Trends Alert: False
Claims in Online weight Loss Advertisements." published by TrustinAds.org,
"...a group of Internet Industry leaders that have come together to work
toward a common goal” here: http://trustinads.org/resources.html
Remember Kevin Trudeau and his books, infommercials and
advertorials alleging that both the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry
value profit over treatments or cures. After long periods of time when he
was either in jail or in court (pleading poverty while living a
"high" lifestyle), on March 17, 2014, Trudeau was sentenced
to 10 years in prison stemming from his November 2013 criminal contempt
conviction. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Trudeau
Dr. Oz may be less confrontational, a more positive and
seemingly caring individual, but his story and Trudeau's are nearly one and the
same.
No comments:
Post a Comment