All About HEALTH: Post #2: Assessing the Credibility of Health Information

The internet is perhaps the most important innovation of our society today.  This is because it instantaneously provides valuable information that we can utilize in our lives.  However, the Internet is also dangerous because it is a medium for uncontrolled transmission of ideas.  This means that there are numerous websites that provide false information.  Today, we will take a look at a website that lacks credibility.  I will show you why the website, and the information provided, is untrustworthy.  Remember!  There are numerous untrustworthy websites out there to deceive you, so be careful!

BestWeightLossPills.net is a website that offers Apidexin, a type of weight loss pill that “works”.  According to the website, Apidexin is clinically proven, patented, and produced visible results fast.  

 

Let’s take a look at the errors of this website, and find out why this website lacks credibility.

1. Where are the sources?  :  This website argues that Apidexin, the product they offer, is “clinically proven”.  However, there are no references to credible source.  As you can see from the image provided above, this weight loss product contains several ingredients that helps you lose weight fast.  According to the website, there are numerous studies that were performed to confirm that the ingredients used were safe and effective.  However, there is no evidence that the studies were actually conducted.  The website just states that “there was a recent study”.  In order for a website to be credible, it must provide evidence that the ingredients safe
2. Purposely misleading statements: This website contains numerous statements that purposely mislead you.  For example, the website claims that if the customers are not satisfied with the results, they will give the money back within 1 business day.  However, this is an extremely misleading statement. As you can see from the image above, the website says: "Simply return the unused bottles" to get the money back.  However, it would be impossible for the consumers to know the effect of this product without opening the bottle.  Moreover, the website makes an implication that the product can be trusted because the ingredients are patented or patent-pending.  This statement is very misleading, because patent-pending simply means "applied for patent".  The ingredient may be rejected from being patented. 
3. Far-fetched results : One of the customer reviewers claims that she is down five pounds six days.  This, in my opinion, is too good to be true.  Even if this is true, it would contain numerous side effects that can potentially harm your body. 
4. Unprofessional : This website is unprofessional.  At the bottom of the website, it says that "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration".  This suggests that even your next door neighbour Barney could have written this.  Moreover, this website evens contains a spelling error. Apparently, the diet pills are guaranteed to give 100% "satasfaction" in every way (see image above).
5. Is it safe? : This website claims several times that Apidexin is safe, and the best way to lose weight.  However, it has been proven that there is a correlation between heart disease and diet pills (Harvard Heart Letter, 2000).  Furthermore, Fletcher et al. (1996) found that there is a direct relation between physical inactivity and cardiovascular death.  This diet pill promotes inactivity, because it suggests that taking this pill effortlessly achieve the weight loss.

Reference:

1. Fletcher, G. et al. (1996). Statement on Exercise: Benefits and Recommendations for Physical Activity Programs for All Americans.

2. Harvard Hear Letter (2000). More on Heart Disease and Diet Pills.