{"id":13810,"date":"2014-12-05T06:03:25","date_gmt":"2014-12-05T11:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/?page_id=13810"},"modified":"2026-01-01T20:05:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T01:05:35","slug":"advertising-diet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/advertising-diet\/","title":{"rendered":"Advertising: Diet \/ Weight Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thanks to Middleweb<\/a> and School Library Journal <\/a>for recommending this resource.
\nSee also ADVERTISING<\/a><\/p>\n

NEW<\/strong>: Watch<\/a> our January 10, 2022 media literacy webinar on this subject.<\/strong><\/p>\n

WHAT’S NEW?
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Federal Trade Commission revealed key phrases<\/a> that may be a sign of false advertising (December 2025)<\/p>\n

In the past year, a number of prescription drugs were unveiled that promised weight loss. And now, those drug messages join traditional weight loss messages all over the airwaves (and online). Here is a sample:
\n\"\" \"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

KEY QUOTES<\/strong>
\n“Testimonials from individuals are not a substitute for science, and that’s what Americans need to understand.”
\nFTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras, quoted in Jan. ’07 AP story<\/a> \u00a0about FTC fines against weight loss product producers for false\/misleading advertising\u00a0 ” If you see an ad for a weight-loss product making fantastic claims, keep your money in your pocket,” said Lydia Parnes, Director of the FTC\u2019s Bureau of Consumer Protection. Source<\/a><\/div>\n

INTRODUCTION<\/strong>
\nDid you ever hear the phrase “caveat emptor” (“let the buyer beware”)? \u00a0That’s pretty good advice, especially when it comes to the promises made by diet and weight loss advertisers after the new year. Yes, it’s that time of year again–for the weight loss ad explosion.\u00a0 Magazines (like these below) in particular feature cover stories on losing weight. And weight loss messaging seems to be everywhere, especially in these new year’s publications:<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

Do your students know how to analyze\/read\/deconstruct print ads? I have previously written about<\/a> how to do just that for MiddleWeb.com (a website for middle grades parents and educators.) \u00a0Here is one worksheet<\/a> that you might use with your students: it includes some good starting questions for them to consider.<\/p>\n

Presented here are some resources, ads, and activities that will encourage young people to use “critical thinking skills” as it relates\u00a0to these persuasive forms of advertising.\u00a0 Since teaching ad technique and awareness is in most state’s health teaching\u00a0standards,<\/a> these ads are perfect for use in classroom settings. If you have comments, please send them to me:\u00a0 fbaker1346@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BACKGROUND<\/strong>
\nIn early December 2003, the Federal Trade Commission issued new guidelines to the media about accepting advertisements for weight loss products which may be deceptive in their claims.\u00a0Read how the media covered the story<\/a>.<\/p>\n

FTC Advice<\/a> issued December 2008: Have some healthy skepticism. Consumers can learn how to spot health scams, such as fake cancer cures and bogus weight loss products, and do some\u00a0research on buying generic drugs, Lasik eye surgery, and using dietary supplements. Consumers can learn about rights they may not even know they had \u2013 like the right to obtain a copy of prescriptions\u00a0for eyeglasses or contact lenses at www.ftc.gov\/health<\/a>. ( See also the FTC website: Red Flag: Bogus Weight Loss Claims<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Presented below are several ads for educators\/parents to consider using.\u00a0 Use of these ads in this context does not imply any deception. Rather I invite educators\/parents\/students to use\u00a0media literacy concepts <\/a>and critical thinking questions <\/a>and apply them to these ads.<\/p>\n

Typical ads for analysis & deconstruction (many located on social media, TV and\u00a0 web pages)
\n \"\"\"\"
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/span>FTC Fake WebSite for Student evaluation:\u00a0 FatFoe<\/a><\/p>\n

Recent news articles\/research:<\/p>\n

NEW<\/strong> BBB Warns About Misleading Ads for Weight Loss Products<\/a> (Jan. 2024)
\nThe Food Industry Pays Influencers To Shape Eating Habits<\/a> (Sept 2023)
\nWhat Kelloggs’ Diet Ads Reveal About Diet Culture<\/a> (July 2023)
\nHow Diet Advertisers Approach 2023<\/a> (January 2023)
\nHow to Spot Misleading Ads For Weight Loss Products<\/a> (January 2023)<\/p>\n

Diet apps are peddling plans that may cause deadly weight loss.<\/a> (January 2021)
\nThe Truth Behind Weight Loss Ads<\/a> (video)
\nTikTok Bans Ads for Diet Pills; Restricts Other Weight Related Ads<\/a> (Nov. 2020)
\nCelebrity Ads for Diets Should Be Banned<\/a> (November 2019)
\nInstagram & Facebook Ban ‘Miracle’ Diet Posts<\/a> (November 2019)
\nSpotting Fake Celebrity Endorsements in Ads <\/a>(October 2016)
\nPublic Deceptions: Diet Lies from Social Media<\/a> (March 2016)
\nHow Far Can Companies Stretch The Truth In Ads<\/a> (Sept. 2014)
\nFTC Fines Marketers for Deceptive Claims<\/a> (July 2014)
\nDieters beware: Those before-and-after weight-loss photos aren’t always legit <\/a>(February 2014)<\/span>
\n<\/span>FTC cracking down on deceptive weight-loss ads<\/a> (January 2014)<\/p>\n

\u00a0VIDEOS:\u00a0 If Celebrity Diet Ads Were Honest<\/a> (Cracked)
\nIf Diet Ads Told The Truth<\/a>
\n<\/span>The Truth Behind Diet Advertising<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Vintage Weight Loss Ads<\/a><\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0Diet companies now targeting men<\/a>
\nFake weight-loss ads on Web lead to FTC settlement<\/a>\u00a0 (March 2012)
\n\u00a0<\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0Viral Video Reveals Dramatic Before & After Infomercial Diet Tricks<\/a> (Feb. 2012)
\nWhy Weight-Loss & Diet Commercials Are Dangerous<\/a> (Jan. 2012)
\n\u00a0New Year Brings New Diet-Company Ads, Programs<\/a><\/span>
\nJenny Craig Ends Ad Campaign After Lawsuit<\/a>
\nWeight Watchers sues Jenny Craig for Bertinelli ad<\/a>
\nMarketers of Unproven Weight-Loss Products Ordered to Pay Nearly $2 Million<\/a> (Jan. 2010)
\nFTC wants more scrutiny of weight-loss ads<\/a> (July 2009)
\nNew Year, New Round of Diet Programs<\/a>
\nInternet Marketers of Dietary Supplement for Weight Loss Agree to Pay $150,000 <\/a>\u00a0(Dec. 2008)
\nBefore & After Ads Lead to\u00a0Bias<\/a> (Nov. 2008)
\nTrimSpa’s Ads Change After Anna Nicole<\/a>
\nClaims in diet-pill ads are too good to be true, <\/a>FTC<\/a>
\nSellers of Popular Weight Loss Supplements Pay $25 Million Over FTC Allegations of Deceptive Advertising<\/a>
\nDiet ads under scrutiny<\/a>
\nFTC To Require Four Weight Loss Pill Companies To Change Ads And Pay Penalties<\/a>
\n\u00a0What You Need to Know About Weight-Loss Programs <\/a>(Jan.2007)<\/span>
\n\u00a0Americans fall prey to weight-loss supplement hype<\/a> (Oct.2006)<\/span>
\nHow adolescent girls interpret weight loss advertising<\/a> (July 2006)
\nFTC to start naming bogus ad broadcasters<\/a>
\nDiet & Hype<\/a> (Newsweek March 2006)
\n“Before and After” diet ads not fair on obese people: Study<\/a>
\nFTC Stops Bogus Ads for ‘Bio Trim’ and Other Weight-loss Products <\/a>(Nov.2005)
\nThis diet pill contains saturated advertising <\/a>(July 2005)
\nDiet pill use on the rise among teenage girls <\/a>(May 2005)
\nFTC Sees Drop in Ads with False Weight-Loss Claims<\/a>( April 2005)
\nWeight Loss Ad Claims Disputed, Study <\/a>(Dec.2004)
\nDiet ads promote stereotypes
\n<\/a>\u00a0Miracle-Diet Ads Lie? Well, Duh! <\/a>(TIME)
\nWeighing the evidence in diet ads<\/a> (FTC)<\/p>\n

Download\u00a0 Soloflex Ad<\/a> (August 2006)<\/p>\n

Online ad for TIMSPA featuring before and after shots of actress\/model Anna Nicole Smith.
\n(I don’t know who they’re trying to fool, but the picture on the left was obviously taken years earlier)
\n\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

\"\"<\/span>
\n<\/a><\/span><\/span>small print above reads:
\n*The “546% weight loss” claim is based soley on Zantrex-3’s active weight-loss
\ncomponent. However, Zantrex-3’s non-ephedrine, xanthine-based Super Stimulant TM
\nhas been shown to produce additional weight loss in some studies.
\n+For full study details visit www.Zantrex-3.com<\/p>\n

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Thanks to Middleweb and School Library Journal for recommending this…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[171],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-13810","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-advertising"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13810","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13810"}],"version-history":[{"count":56,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13810\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41380,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13810\/revisions\/41380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}