Walk down any Main Street and you’ll likely see that two out of every three adult Americans are overweight, with one of the two clinically obese. That is a fact of life today. It is also a fact that there are numerous products, programs and services advertised as quick ways to help you lose weight.

These advertisements are everywhere – on the television and radio, the internet, in magazines, and even on flyers plastered to your windshield at the market while you shop. While many of these claims are legitimate, some claims are outright fraud.

Did you know that frauds for weight loss are the most common of all health care frauds? It’s a serious problem in the United States. Weight loss fraud not only puts your health at risk, but it also increases health care costs and may discourage someone from seeking appropriate medical treatment. More damaging though is the psychological toll weight loss fraud has on the consumer’s self-esteem by adding to a person’s feelings of shame and sense of failure.

As the diet industry gears up for the post-holiday weight-loss resolutions many will make, consumers need to know how not to fall victim to fraudulent claims. Legitimate weight loss programs do not make outrageous claims. Here are some things you can do to protect yourself against weight loss fraud.

When making a decision about a weight-loss program or product, ask questions and be sure you receive satisfactory answers before spending any money. Questions consumers should ask include:

• What are the qualifications of the personnel running the weight-loss program?
• What are the risks associated with the program or product(s)?
• What is the cost of the program or product(s)?
• What are the long-term success rates of the program?

The FDA wants to know when a product causes a problem — even if you are unsure which product caused the problem, and even if you do not visit a doctor or clinic. When you report your adverse event or concern, be sure to have the following information handy: the name, address and telephone number of the person who became ill; the name, address and doctor or hospital who treated the person ill; the problem and the name of the product and store where the product was purchased. In addition, you should also report the problem to the manufacturer and/or distributor listed on the product label and the store where the product was purchased.

U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
Postal inspectors investigate crimes, such as fraudulent marketing promotions, that use the U.S. Mail. A crime is considered mail fraud if it originates in the mail, by telephone or on the Internet and is carried out in the U.S. Mail. The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) handles complaints of fraud. If you think you are a victim of weight loss fraud by mail, submit a Mail Fraud Complaint Form to the USPIS online at www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/MailFraudComplaint.htm or file a complaint at your local post office.

Attorneys General
Each state has an Attorney General that serves as a representative of the public interest in addition to providing legal protection to the state's government agencies and legislatures. You can find your state Attorney General’s office information online at www.naag.org/ag/full_ag_table.php.

Better Business Bureau (BBB)
The BBB is a self-regulated organization supported by businesses to provide reports to consumers about companies. The BBB works with law enforcement agencies to stop fraud. You can check on a company, find tips on preventing fraud and file a complaint at the BBB’s website: www.bbb.org.