Diet: Results Not Typical

I had 14 weight/health-oriented newsletters in my inbox this
morning. (Subscribe to one or two lists and they will multiply
– the rabbits of the Internet!)

Several contained testimonials from rabid fans of their
particular diet program. Five contained before-and-after
pictures or verbal descriptions.

What fabulous results! I’ve got to try this!

Wait, what are all those asterisks?

Ah, the phrase that turns the blood of the most motivated
desperate dieter to ice: “Results not typical.”

Now what exactly does that mean? Did they specifically select
the greatest outlier to mislead us about results? Is it only the
freaks who are willing to rave about the program? Does the plan
only work for certain people? Should I assume that I, too, will
reach the dizzying heights of the featured role model?

Lose the hype, please. Talk to me as if I’m intelligent as well
as overweight. Being fat does not equate with being stupid!

Show me “typical” results and I’ll assess your program with
honesty and respect. If most folks lose 5 pounds, publicize
that. If not, all those unhappy overwieghters who sign up for
your diet will expect to lose the poundage of your featured
dieter.

The last thing the desperate, guilt-ridden, and self-critical
dieters of the world need is to be misled into unreal
expectations. That direction will only result in a magnified
loss of self-esteem and self-respect. Your marketing
misinformation is psychologically destructive and emotionally
devasting.

E-Diets, Atkins, Zone, South Beach — Shame on you!

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