Weight loss research vs testimonials and photos

What information can we use to make the right choice about using a particular weight loss method, product or diet? The easiest way is to simply try it and see if it works. The problem with this approach is that it may take a lot of time and money to try out even a small fraction of the enormous variety of the existing choices. Furthermore, trying out an unsound weight loss treatment may be hazardous to your health.

One alternative is to see what other people have to say about the method, diet or product in question. This is not always a wise choice, especially if you rely on testimonials or photographs provided by the vendor. For some products, testimonials are simply "medical fiction" supplied by ghost writers. Before and after photos, are also rather unreliable unless you know the exact time and conditions when they were taken and trust the photographer. It's amazing what you can do with an ordinary photo using a computer and good software.

However, even true testimonial and genuine photos can grossly misrepresent reality. Consider the following scenario. One million people tried a weight loss product and fifty lost weight (even with a sugar pill an occasional person will have results). Then the testimonials or photos of these fifty are taken and attached to the product. What do you think is the chance for an average consumer to benefit from the product? Yes, about the same as winning a lottery. As sobering as it may be, the only reliable way to find out if a product or treatment has a decent chance to work is to analyze independent medical research performed by institutions unrelated to the product's vendor. This is the type of information primarily used on this website.