The document warns about empty weight loss promises and dubious diets and supplements being promoted in 2012. It highlights two such programs - the HCG diet, which uses injections of a pregnancy hormone along with severe calorie restriction but has no proven long-term effectiveness or safety, and Calotren, a supplement that claims to burn fat but actually causes weight loss through calorie restriction and its laxative property of aloe vera. The document advises consumers to be skeptical of miracle cures and do their research before trying questionable diets or supplements.

1. Empty Weight Loss Promises
Watch out for the 2012 Snake Oil Salesman
The
Snake
Oil
salesman/quack
has
gotten
much
slicker
than
the
original
con
artist
of
the
old
west
but
the
message
is
the
same,
“For
a
price,
I’ll
give
you
a
magic
elixir
that
will
melt
the
unwanted
fat
away
and
there
is
no
special
effort
needed
on
your
part.”
Before
you
put
down
your
hard
earned
money,
remember
the
old
adage,
“If
it
sounds
too
good
to
be
true…..”
Aside
from
being
a
waste
of
money,
the
bigger
concern
is,
does
the
diet
plan/potion
have
the
potential
to
do
harm?
The
Latest
Dubious
Diet-­‐HCG
Diet
The
latest
regime
that
promises
you
a
miracle
cure
for
obesity
is
the
HCG
diet.
HCG
is
human
chorionic
gonadotropin,
a
hormone
produced
during
pregnancy.
As
a
prescription
medication,
HCG
is
used
mainly
to
treat
fertility
issues.
Using
HCG
for
weight
loss
raises
a
serious
red
flag
for
health
professionals.
Because
the
HCG
diet
combines
injections
or
supplements
of
the
HCG
hormone
along
with
severe
calorie
restriction,
you
may
lose
weight
in
the
short
term,
but
it
is
the
calorie
restriction
that
causes
the
weight
loss,
not
the
HCG.
In
addition,
the
safety
of
HCG
for
weight
loss
is
uncertain,
and
the
hormone
hasn't
been
approved
by
the
Food
and
Drug
Administration
as
a
treatment
for
obesity
or
weight
control.
Once
you
stop
the
HCG
diet,
which
severely
limits
important
nutrients
your
body
needs,
you're
likely
to
regain
any
weight
you
lost.
Additionally,
you
will
come
out
of
the
ordeal
with
a
loss
of
lean
muscle
tissue
resulting
in
a
lower
metabolism.
The
key
to
permanent
weight
loss
is
developing
healthy
eating
and
exercise
habits
—
not
following
fad
diets.
Calotren-­‐Mass
Marketing
The
media
has
been
inundated
with
advertisements
for
the
“miracle”
weight
loss
product,
Calotren?
The
much
touted
product
is
made
by
Top
of
the
World
Distributors
(TOTWD).
They
make
a
wide
variety
of
products,
everything
from
EFAs,
to
skin
care
to
sexual
enhancers.
The
web
site
claims:
“it
is
an
all-­‐natural
Protein
Formula
working
as
a
nutritional
supplement
that
assists
the
body
in
shedding
excess
body
fat
and
toxins
naturally.
CALOTREN
does
not
stimulate,
starve
or
trick
your
body
into
weight
loss.
It
simply
supports
the
body’s
lean
muscle
tissue
and
fuels
the
body’s
natural
mechanism
in
burning
off
excess
fats
and
sugars
more
efficiently.
For
those
who
are
underweight
or
in
good
physical
condition,
CALOTREN
encourages
stamina
and
energy.”

2. What
is
Calotren?
The
ingredients
for
Calotren
include:
capsules
with
Collagen
Hydrolysate,
(derived
from
either
Bovine
or
Marine
sources),
Aloe
Vera,
and
Vegetable
Glycerin.
Additional
components
in
the
capsules
are
Gelatin,
Magnesium
Stearate,
Stearic
Acid
and
Microcrystalline
Cellulose.
The
Liquid
version
also
includes:
Oxygenated
Water,
Collagen
Hydrolysate
(Bovine
Source),
Aloe
Vera,
Vegetable
Glycerin,
Potassium
Sorbate,
Natural
Raspberry
Flavoring,
and
Methyl
Paraben.
Top
of
the
World
Distributors
claim
the
product
contains
a
protein
formula
that
will
“Simply
support
the
body’s
lean
muscle
tissue
and
fuels
the
body’s
natural
mechanism
in
burning
off
excess
fats
and
sugars
more
efficiently.
“There
is
absolutely
no
scientific
research
available
to
back
this
claim.
The
rule
with
Calotren
is
that
you
take
it
before
going
to
bed
and
don’t
eat
three
hours
prior
to
sleep
time.
Avoiding
late
night
eating
can
be
an
effective
way
to
lose
weight.
Of
course,
the
fluid
loss
from
a
natural
laxative
ingredient
in
Caletren
really
makes
the
morning
weigh
in
look
impressive.
Calotren
contains
aloe
vera,
which
when
ingested,
acts
as
a
laxative.
Calorie
restriction
along
with
a
laxative
within
the
product
results
in
weight
loss
with
Calotren.
You
don’t,
however,
need
to
buy
this
product
to
go
on
very
low
calories
or
to
take
a
laxative
(a
very
unhealthy,
ineffective
way
to
lose
weight).
There
are
no
scientific
studies
available
to
support
claims
for
this
product.
If
TOTWD
had
proof
that
their
concoction
worked
as
touted,
you
would
have
heard
about
it,
loud
and
often.
The
Bottom
Line
The
Bottom
Line
on
diets,
as
well
as
dietary
supplements
–
Pry
Before
You
Try!
The
responsibility
is
yours
and
yours
alone.
The
old
adage,
if
it
sounds
too
good
to
be
true….
Still
rings
true.
Ultimately,
it
is
up
to
the
consumer
to
choose
the
best
eating
plan
for
a
healthy
lifestyle.
If
a
diet
which
may
include
dietary
supplements
or
injections
is
being
considered,
it
is
recommended
that
the
consumer
gets
answers
to
the
following
questions
and
share
those
answers
with
a
Registered
Dietitian
who
works
closely
with
him/her
before
trying
any
dietary
supplements
on
the
market:
1).
If
it
is
a
“diet,”
does
it
contain
all
of
the
food
groups
or
are
important
nutrients
missing.
2).
If
there
are
supplements,
am
I
confidant
that
the
ingredients
listed
on
the
outside
lab
are
exactly
what
are
on
the
inside
of
the
container?
3).
Are
there
reports
of
risk
and/or
adverse
side
effects
associated
with
the
proposed
“diet”?
Very
low
calorie
diets
(below
1200
calories)
or
diets
missing
food
groups
may
result
in
nutrient
deficiencies
and
a
loss
of
lean
tissue.

3.
4).
Have
the
short-­‐term
and
long-­‐term
effects
of
the
diet
and/or
proposed
supplements
or
injections
been
studied
and
in
what
journal
has
the
study
been
published?
5).
Are
the
proposed
effects
of
this
diet
and/or
any
of
its
key
ingredients
supported
by
science?
6).
Do
the
amounts
of
the
ingredients
on
the
label
of
proposed
supplements
match
the
amounts
that
have
been
studied?
7).
Do
the
proposed
effects
of
this
diet
and
key
ingredients
that
go
with
it
apply
to
my
needs?
8).
Do
I
really
need
this
supplement
and/or
any
of
its
key
ingredients
to
obtain
a
healthy
body
weight?
9).
How
have
my
eating
habits
and
food
decisions
changed
for
the
better
by
following
this
program
to
promote
a
permanent
healthy
weight
loss?
10).
Am
I
better
off
spending
money
on
supplements
and
prepared
foods
or
healthy
fresh
foods
from
the
grocery
store
or
Farmer’s
Market?
To
help
you
avoid
the
“Snake
Oil
Salesman”:
check
these
web
sites
for
sound
nutrition
information:
Consumer
reports
(www.consumerreports.org
),
Center
for
Science
in
the
Public
interest
(www.cspinet.org),
The
Institute
of
Medicine
(http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Nutrition/FoodForum.aspx
)
and
the
gold
standard
site
for
supplement
use:
Natural
Medicines
Comprehensive
Data
Base
http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/home.aspx?cs=&s=ND
(.
Good
basic
nutrition
information
and
resources
from
the
American
Dietetic
Asso.
(changing
name
to
the
Academy
of
Nutrition
and
Dietetics):
www.eatright.org.
Wellness,
Cardiovascular,
and
Sports
Nutrition:
www.scandpg.org.
Get
a
Jump
on
Healthy
Eating
for
2012
The
New
Year
brings
the
same
news
as
the
years
preceding
when
it
comes
to
acquiring
and
maintaining
a
healthy
body
weight.
Eat
well
balanced
meals
with
plenty
of
variety
and
minimize
the
intake
of
“empty
calorie”
foods.
Pay
attention
to
portion
sizes
and
get
moving
with
physical
activity.
CSL
Nutritional
Services
will
help
you
put
it
together.
Give
us
a
call
at
713-­‐932-­‐8888.