Nutrition Quackery

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Nutrition Quackery
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Medical Quackery

• What exactly is quackery?
• Type of health fraud that promotes products and
  services that have questionable and unproven
  scientific bases. (quackwatch.org)
• Usually the product promises to cure.

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Background

• In 2007, Americans spent 39.5 billion on CAM
  services.
• Not all of those are considered quackery.

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Why it exists

• Lack of laws preventing selling dietary
  supplements.
• Lack of credentials for nutritionists
• Findings that go public before duplication
• Targets for quackery
• The elderly or aging
• Those with disabling diseases
• Those who want to lose weight
• Athletes

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DSHEA - 1994

• Background history of DSHEA
• Changes made in 2002
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vYKyM8Dz8mec

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Labeling

• Claims are only allowed to state
• May REDUCE risk or may improve condition.
• Must include has not been evaluated by the FDA
  and product is not intended to diagnose, treat,
  cure, or prevent any disease.
• Do you always hear these disclaimers?

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Claims and Promises

• Red flags
• Promise a quick/easy fix.
• Claims too good to be true.
• Promise cures for a wide range of illnesses.
• Promote special ingredient
• Guarantee all results.
• Use a lot of testimonials/undocumented case
  histories from satisfied patients.
• Offer special offers for a low, low price.

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Nutrition Quackery

• The most profitable of all quackeries!
• Includes
• Diet supplements, weight loss products, herbal
  remedies, sports/energy products.
• Why is it so easy for these products to succeed?
• FDA regulations do not regulate since they are
  not drugs.

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Evaluating Health Information

• Who runs the website / who paid for the study?
• What is the purpose?
• What or who is the original source of
  information?
• How is the information documented?
• Can the information be verified by other credible
  sources?

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The Good News

• A 2006 survey conducted by the American College
  Health Association indicated that college
  students are smart about evaluating health
  information. They trust the health information
  they receive from health professionals and
  educators and are skeptical about popular
  information sources. (Fahey, et al, 2009)

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Simple Tips

• Find the original source
• Watch for misleading language
• Know the difference between research reports and
  public health advice
• Be skeptical