Fraud of the Day

Well this is pretty shameless. Some snake-oil company called "GOLO" is pimping their more-than-likely-worthless product in TV ads with this "expert" spokesthing.

Yeah, that's FOX News's favorite pshychiatrist "Doctor" Keith Ablow.
And they don't even have the decency to point out that he is not a dietician, or a nutritionist, or really any kind of an expert on weight loss. He may not even be a real psychiatrist.

Oh, and if you aren't familiar with his hackery, here's all you need to know about "Doctor" Keith Ablow and his expertise on weight loss: (via Media Matters) he " described First Lady Michelle Obama as too fat to be credible while offering advice to children on nutrition."

"If you've struggled to lose weight, it's not your fault. The culprit that may be sabotaging your ability to lose weight could very well be Insulin Resistance." ~ Dr. Keith Ablow

Okay, I'll bite. What is "insulin resistance?"

Well, according to the National Institutes of Health, it is actually a real thing.

In insulin resistance, muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond properly to insulin and thus cannot easily absorb glucose from the bloodstream. As a result, the body needs higher levels of insulin to help glucose enter cells.
The beta cells in the pancreas try to keep up with this increased demand for insulin by producing more. As long as the beta cells are able to produce enough insulin to overcome the insulin resistance, blood glucose levels stay in the healthy range.
Over time, insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes and prediabetes because the beta cells fail to keep up with the body's increased need for insulin. Without enough insulin, excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream, leading to diabetes, prediabetes, and other serious health disorders

Okay, but what about weight gain?

Although the exact causes of insulin resistance are not completely understood, scientists think the major contributors to insulin resistance are excess weight and physical inactivity.
Some experts believe obesity, especially excess fat around the waist, is a primary cause of insulin resistance.

Ah. I see. So according to the NIH, obesity can cause insulin resistance. According to "Doctor" Keith Ablow, it's insulin resistance causing obesity.

And, if you are someone who doesn't know that Keith Ablow is one of the biggest quacks to have ever faked expertise, you might be wondering "gosh, could I have this insulin resistance? Is that why I'm overweight? Here I thought it was all the cheesecake and lethargy, but if this doctor says so. . ." And if you did think that, you might take this quick Cosmo-test to see if you do indeed have a serious medical condition which should really have been diagnosed by an actual physician, but who has time for all that?"

The following are indicators of impaired insulin performance or Insulin Resistance. Review the 10 indicators below to see how many apply to you:

 

• My waist is greater than 40” for men or 35” for women

So, if you're a larger-sized person, you can pretty much assume that you have it. 

• I gain weight easily or have difficulty losing weight

So if you are one of what medical experts refer to as "most people," you probably have it.

• I have dieted before and gained the weight back

This also puts you into that high-risk category that doctors refer to as "people."

• I am more than 20 pounds overweight I have low energy or suffer from fatigue I suffer from hunger and cravings

 If you are overweight, that's clear evidence that this condition is the thing that is causing you to be overweight. That's the scientific method in action!

• I am an emotional or stress eater

So, if you eat because of your emotional stress, um. . . that still counts, somehow? Like your weight gain couldn't possibly be due to overeating just because you tend to overeat! I diagnose insulin resistance!

• I consume meal replacement shakes, skip meals or eliminate key food groups like fat or carbs.

If you are currently on a diet - Yep, you have it! That's a sure sing of insulin resisitance, because why else would you be trying to lose weight, hmm? Answer me that, smart-guy!

• My diet consists of more than 30% processed foods

So if you live in America. . . You got it!

• I am on one or more weight related medications (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sugar control)

Well, sounds to us like maybe you wouldn't mind being on one more!


So what is this miracle elixir?

". . .a patented, all natural, plant based formula with 10 active ingredients with 3 proprietary mechanisms. These address the triggers associated with weight gain."


So. . . there's no medicine? Just "plant-based" ingredients and "mechanisms?" So it could be practically anything? It could be some sort of herbs that may have medicinal properties, or it could be ground up tree bark and yard clippings? Sign me up!

Oh, and what are "mechanisms" and how do you fit them into a pill?

Take two of these and call me in the morning!

But wait, there's more!
You also get this patented space-age diet plan book!



So, if I take your sugar pills, I mean plant-based ingredient pills, and then eat a healthy diet with lots of vegetables and such, I could lose weight? Or, and I'm just spit-balling here, maybe I could just eat healthy food, and. . .wait, hear me out on this. . . I could eat vegetables instead of fried pies, skip the pills altogether and maybe still lose some weight?

Gosh, "Doctor" Ablow, you sure are swell. It's no wonder you have the respect of your peers who say things like this about you:

Medical Experts Condemn Fox's Keith Ablow:

"Shameful" And "Unfortunate That He Is Given A Platform"

Medical experts contacted by the Associated Press condemned Fox News contributor Dr. Keith Ablow for his ongoing cable news psychoanalysis of President Obama, his wife, and other figures.
Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman, the chairman of psychiatry at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and past president of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), told the AP that "it is shameful and unfortunate that he is given a platform by Fox News or any other media organization," adding that "he is a narcissistic self-promoter of limited and dubious expertise."
Ford Vox, a staff psychiatrist at the Shepherd Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta, said that Ablow's medical analysis "is really just irresponsible and it's embarrassing for physicians in general."

Well, this will probably be my last post for the week. We have some friends coming out from California and we're going to drive up to Nashville. And we're not coming home until at least one of us has a record contract! See you next week!

Oh, and for the record, I am at least 20 lbs overweight, and get winded watching sports on TV. I am not at all trying to mock or shame anyone over their weight. Probably should have put that up top.