Dr. Oz Testifies About Miracle Diet Scams
June 18, 2014Dr. Oz testified before a congressional hearing regarding diet scams. Dr. Oz was scheduled to testify in front of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection about the many companies that misuse his name and likeness to promote diet products. The hearings are part of the recent government crack down on diet products that make false weight loss claims not supported by scientific research. Early this year the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged several weight loss companies with false advertising.
During his testimony, Dr. Oz, was confronted by Senator Claire McCaskill, chairwoman of the subcommittee, regarding claims he has made about "miracle" weight loss products on his show. While Dr. Oz does not promote specific brands of weight loss products, he is known for mentioning certain "miracle" ingredients which can help weight loss, such as green coffee extract, raspberry ketones, and garcinia cambogia.
Sentator McCaskill pointed out that the claims made on The Dr. Oz Show are not supported by scientific research and asked why he cheapens the show with such statements as "I've got the number one miracle in a bottle to burn your fat."
Dr. Oz reiterated that he does not sell any products, and that he simply wants to inform his audience about ingredients that he believes do have potential health benefits.
My job, I feel on the show, is to be a cheerleader for the audience. And when they don't think they have hope, when they don't think they can make it happen, I want to look and I do look everywhere, including alternative healing traditions, for any evidence that might be supportive to them.
Dr. Oz also assured Sentor McCaskill that many of the references she mentioned from his show were aired several years ago and that recently he has changed the tone and word usage of the messages he shares on the show. However, he acknowledged the claims he made have been and continue to be taken advantage of by companies selling scam diet products.
Watch the exchange with Senator McCaskill.
Source: Resnick, B. (2014, June 14). Dr. Oz Defends His 'Miracles'. Retrieved from National Journal: http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/dr-oz-defends-his-miracles-20140617
