Weight loss scams are on the rise. Here’s what you need to watch out for.
Weight loss drugs sold online can make you sick
“Drop 10 pounds before Thanksgiving!” That’s all over my social media feeds because I was a dope and clicked on a video of a gal showing off her svelte new figure.
Ads for Ozempic and other weight loss meds are everywhere. The weight loss drug biz is a $100 billion industry. I know a bunch of people who have taken Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus or one of the other options, and I bet you do, too.
Some folks shy away from going to the doctor for these prescription drugs, and I get that — it can be a hassle, embarrassing or just too expensive. No wonder nonprescription options are popular, too. Before you jump on the latest health trend, let me break it down and arm you with the facts.
Let’s talk numbers
Where there’s money, there are scammers. Cybersecurity firm BrandShield recently shut down 250 sites selling dangerous and sometimes deadly Ozempic counterfeits.
Online pharmacies sell weight loss drugs labeled as GLP-1 or compounded semaglutide for a couple of hundred bucks a month. These contain the same active ingredient as the prescription drugs.
The difference is they’re not regulated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality. Taking one could be totally fine … or you might end up taking meds from a compounding facility that cuts corners.
Don’t fall for marketing gimmicks
Take Kourtney Kardashian’s Lemme brand. They sell a $90 GLP-1 Daily supplement they claim stops your cravings. It’s made of fruit extracts and saffron and probably costs about 8 cents a pill to manufacture. Spoiler: It doesn’t work.
All over TikTok, influencers are showing off #inspiring health journeys while earning up to $30,000 a month with sponsored posts. They’re cashing in to get you to buy these trendy drugs, and I bet some haven’t tried them.
Their other tricks aren’t medications at all but attempts to get views. “Oatzempic,” trending all over the internet, is an oatmeal and lime smoothie (ew) influencers claim will shave off 20 pounds a month. Uh-huh.
Get the skinny
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Many focus on getting healthier at the start of the year as part of their resolutions. Tap or click for simple tech resolutions you can keep. But if you want to truly be healthy, it’s an all-year event.
There is so much misinformation about eating healthily, the right amount of exercise and the best ways to lose weight. Thankfully, there are tools to help you get fit in whatever way you want.
Haulin’ oats: TikTok’s latest weight loss fad is “oatzempic” — a mixture of oats, water and lime juice folks claim helps you lose 40 pounds in two months. A little extra fiber never hurts, but spoiler: This is an overhyped trend, not a weight loss miracle.
1/2 teaspoon
Amount of cinnamon to consume each day to shrink your waist. The changes are small, but, hey, anything that lowers my BMI with basically no work is OK in my book. You can take cinnamon in capsule form, or sprinkle it on your morning oats or in your coffee.
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4 best apps to help you lose weight
Who couldn’t stand to live a little healthier lifestyle? Whether you’re looking to eat better or hit the gym more, you don’t have to go it alone. Try incorporating a fitness app. Tap or click here for important information before buying health supplements or weight loss pills online.
Trying to stick to a new diet? This site helps you plan meals
On a diet? We feel you. The struggle is real, so we’re always interested in covering the best ways to lose weight online. Tap or click for health tests you can take online.
Many of us know we need to drop a few pounds, and some have refined these goals into complex numbers, caloric deficits, and ideal proportions of daily macronutrient intake. Good news. We’ve found a great way to keep track of your meals.
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