Dr. Oz Grilled by US Senate on Weight Loss Scam Endorsements

rowlandsw · June 2014

Now they need to take away is license and go after all these other tv doctors who push their quackery. Sadly med school is pumping out people like him by the ton, trained to make money at the cost of the patients, we're commodities to them that they have no financial interest in curing.

Corsetopia · June 2014

I'm reading so many posts about somebody's mom believing in what he says wholeheartedly. It's cracking me up because my mom is the SAME way, she's always coming at me about what Dr. Oz endorses. At one point she told me sushi is going to kill me because it breeds small worms that live in my stomach or something because Dr. Oz said so.

:laugh:

LoupGarouTFTs · June 2014

By the way, this photo is not the real Dr. Oz, it's his twin brother.

His long-lost evil twin brother who just stole into Port Charles under cover of deepest, darkest night? Or is that the gentle artist twin brother who's been locked up in a Llanview attic for the last 20 years or so?

redversustheblue · June 2014

Nice! In to watch later.

wendyking1979 · June 2014

By the way, this photo is not the real Dr. Oz, it's his twin brother.

His long-lost evil twin brother who just stole into Port Charles under cover of deepest, darkest night? Or is that the gentle artist twin brother who's been locked up in a Llanview attic for the last 20 years or so?

You're my new best friend.

TheLostMermaid · June 2014

Bump

RunsOnEspresso · June 2014

He was on Rachael Ray about a month ago and was basically touting the eat less, move more and saying how there is no miracle cure. I thought but wait... doesn't he hawk a new miracle weightloss cure just about every month?

mscleo1115 · June 2014

The biggest smile spread across my face when I first saw this hit the news, cannot stand the guy! My mom is always trying his crap for weight loss and still takes his word as gold and yeah...she's gained and lost the same 10 pounds over the last five years...shaking my head.

Pirate_chick · June 2014

His name is Dr. Oz. Did we not learn anything from Dorthy??!?!

Joreanasaurous · June 2014

I was hoping his fans would get their panties in a bunch and come inand defend him since those products worked for them.

I have popcorn ready and everything.

SLLRunner · June 2014

Bumping for later reading.

Right now, all I have to say is--it's about time someone publicly confronted him on his weight loss miracles.

MKEgal · June 2014

No matter where you hear health info, unless it's from a reputable source
>>> check it out using a reputable source <<< !!!

Here's Pub Med, from the United States National Institututes of Health.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
You can search topics, authors, or put in the title of a study someone has referenced...
If PubMed doesn't have the text available free, try google scholar: http://scholar.google.com/

Learn all you can.
Yes, it takes you to real research which sometimes has some big scary hard to pronounce words. Deal with it. If you're not sure what it says, use a dictionary (even wikipedia is a place to start) or check with your doctor next time you're in.
A week or so ago I happened to watch Dr. Oz and he mentioned a study that sounded interesting, so I got on PubMed and went searching. Found some related studies, but not that one yet.

At one point she told me sushi is going to kill me because it breeds small worms that live in my stomach or something because Dr. Oz said so.

If you're not getting the best grade of fish, from a reputable, safe dealer, you do run the risk of it being infected and becoming infected yourself with small worms in your intestines. And even then, sometimes they can't know how safe their food is. Probably won't kill you. In fact, many people who are infected don't even know it.

Here are studies looking at exactly that problem:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3776925
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16318703
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17465485

There's only one local fish seller I'd trust for sushi. When I went in there one day to buy some things the counter clerk had just taken a bite of tuna (raw). If the staff feels safe eating it raw, so do I.

lemon629 · June 2014

At one point she told me sushi is going to kill me because it breeds small worms that live in my stomach or something because Dr. Oz said so.

If you're not getting the best grade of fish, from a reputable, safe dealer, you do run the risk of it being infected and becoming infected yourself with small worms in your intestines. And even then, sometimes they can't know how safe their food is. Probably won't kill you. In fact, many people who are infected don't even know it.

Here are studies looking at exactly that problem:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3776925
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16318703
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17465485

There's only one local fish seller I'd trust for sushi. When I went in there one day to buy some things the counter clerk had just taken a bite of tuna (raw). If the staff feels safe eating it raw, so do I.
[/quote]

The stuff about worms is true.
Most sushi in the United States has been frozen to kill parasites, as required by FDA regulations. Some types of fish are excepted. I think tuna is one.

lemon629 · June 2014

At one point she told me sushi is going to kill me because it breeds small worms that live in my stomach or something because Dr. Oz said so.

If you're not getting the best grade of fish, from a reputable, safe dealer, you do run the risk of it being infected and becoming infected yourself with small worms in your intestines. And even then, sometimes they can't know how safe their food is. Probably won't kill you. In fact, many people who are infected don't even know it.

Here are studies looking at exactly that problem:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3776925
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16318703
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17465485

There's only one local fish seller I'd trust for sushi. When I went in there one day to buy some things the counter clerk had just taken a bite of tuna (raw). If the staff feels safe eating it raw, so do I.

The stuff about worms is true.
Most sushi in the United States has been frozen to kill parasites, as required by FDA regulations. Some types of fish are excepted. I think tuna is one.

Unknown · June 2014

This content has been removed.

gurgi22 · June 2014

His name is Dr. Oz. Did we not learn anything from Dorthy??!?!

^^ Love this!

pfgaytriot · June 2014

Bump.

jmv7117 · June 2014

Democratic Senator, Claire McCaskill to Dr. Mehmet Oz:
"The scientific community is almost monolithic against you in terms of the efficacy of the products you called 'miracles'... You are melding medical advice, news, and entertainment in a way that harms consumers."

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/17/health/senate-grills-dr-oz/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Watch all three video clips embedded in that report. He looked quite embarrassed.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I joined MFP in early November 2013. After reading several negative comments regarding Dr Oz, I finally turned on his show to see what the problem was some time in February. Since then I have watched it sporadically. A lot of his information is good but like all these types of shows, some of it is sensationalization. I had already done a lot of research on some of the supplements for weight loss because I use and have used a large number of supplements on a regular basis. What always bothered me was his favourite word "miracle" in respect to many dietary supplements including those for weight loss. I also do not like that he tells his audience to take a certain supplement without telling them that the supplement can have negative side effects and to do their research before consuming any dietary supplement, even if that dietary supplement is something as benign as Vitamin C because there can still be negative side effects. I have very carefully researched each and every dietary supplement I take so am well aware of any negative side effects so it bothers me that folks are willy nilly taking advice on dietary supplements from a heart surgeon who is misusing his credentials to push dietary supplements in general. I wonder how many folks have suffered negative side effects, some permanent damage or worse because they simply took one or more dietary supplement he recommended. As far as some of the dietary supplements specific for weight loss, the scientific evidence is stacked against Dr Oz. Some of these supplements are not only ineffective they can cause permanent negative health effects (eg. liver damage, kidney failure, nerve damage) or even death. While he should be ashamed of himself for these types of endorsements, I doubt he will suffer any consequences due to the Senate investigation. If anything, his audience will grow as folks who did not watch the show will tune in just to see what the fuss is all about, just as I did.

I do still watch his show from time to time. My agenda for doing so is two fold. First, it has made me become even more critical than I already was and given that we eat clean, I am very critical of our foods. Second, he does give out a few tid bits of good information that can be used.

jmv7117 · June 2014

Now they need to take away is license and go after all these other tv doctors who push their quackery. Sadly med school is pumping out people like him by the ton, trained to make money at the cost of the patients, we're commodities to them that they have no financial interest in curing.

I hate to break it to you but consumers are nothing but commodities to any of these companies. The food industry is the worst offender. Trust me, they are not making their product 'low calorie' or 'low fat' because they are concerned over your health and well being. They make these products because the sell with the sole goal of lining their pockets. Sadly, folks here will get their backs up over Dr Oz but have no problem pumping their bodies full of processed foods designed solely to make money for the food industry. Go figure!

csuhar · June 2014

Saw him on cnn today while running on the treadmill... wanted to punch him in his face when he was smiling in court. He should be crying and apologizing, not insisting on the fact that he believes in miracle pills and saying that he tried them on his family... He really thought that even the judge was an idiot?...

Here's the thing, and trust me I'm NOT defending him, I think that personally he DOES believe in a lot of the junk he pushes.

Not saying that it works, I'm just saying he believes in a lot of dumb, debunked, scam artist type ****. He believes in all that ayurvedic medicine, Reiki (healing people with massage or just waving your hands over them), alternative medicine garbage.

Because he's not really a brilliant doctor out to fool everyone, he's a good looking tv pitchman with an empty head who is perfect at being propped up and used to sell crap.

^ this. I think you hit the nail on the empty head!

In many ways, it makes sense that he's really just a pitchman because how else is he going to have new products to discuss on a recurring basis?

Think about it- he got his launch from Oprah, and really carried on with the same basic audience. But Oprah's just a general talkshow host. She can talk about bullying, books, interior design trends, food, and pretty much anything under the sun that will grab people's attention. She can pull new ideas and products to promote from any of a myriad of topics.

Dr. Oz, however, is basically stuck talking about health, and the daytime tv audience isn't really going to be pulled in by a lecture on something academic. The people who would be interested in that will likely turn to PBS, Nova, or channels like Discovery Health. This audience wants something EXCITING, and how do you give that to them? You tell them there's a way to make their dreams come true, and it's even better if it doesn't involve all the work they've been told they'll have to put in.

joejccva71 · June 2014

At one point she told me sushi is going to kill me because it breeds small worms that live in my stomach or something because Dr. Oz said so.

If you're not getting the best grade of fish, from a reputable, safe dealer, you do run the risk of it being infected and becoming infected yourself with small worms in your intestines. And even then, sometimes they can't know how safe their food is. Probably won't kill you. In fact, many people who are infected don't even know it.

Here are studies looking at exactly that problem:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3776925
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16318703
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17465485

There's only one local fish seller I'd trust for sushi. When I went in there one day to buy some things the counter clerk had just taken a bite of tuna (raw). If the staff feels safe eating it raw, so do I.

The stuff about worms is true.
Most sushi in the United States has been frozen to kill parasites, as required by FDA regulations. Some types of fish are excepted. I think tuna is one.

Did you actually read those studies or just post the links?

Those aren't really studies. They're "events" that happened and NIH recorded them. Those people could have been sick from improper care of the food at their restaurants/locations. I don't eat sushi myself because I'm not a fan of raw fish, but I know quite a few people that eat it every day and I've never heard of anyone having repeated issues or ANY issue of parasites after eating sushi. And I've also never seen or read a peered study where they actually went and tried testing this.

criticaltodd · June 2014

"I am Dr. Oz, the Great and Powerful! Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"

Becre8tive · June 2014

I want this bumped every day so new members will read it and won't think on buying the stupid "miracle" pills

JTUSAFRet · June 2014

Raspberry Keytones and Garcinia Cambogia fore everyone! :laugh:

lemon629 · June 2014

At one point she told me sushi is going to kill me because it breeds small worms that live in my stomach or something because Dr. Oz said so.

If you're not getting the best grade of fish, from a reputable, safe dealer, you do run the risk of it being infected and becoming infected yourself with small worms in your intestines. And even then, sometimes they can't know how safe their food is. Probably won't kill you. In fact, many people who are infected don't even know it.

Here are studies looking at exactly that problem:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3776925
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16318703
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17465485

There's only one local fish seller I'd trust for sushi. When I went in there one day to buy some things the counter clerk had just taken a bite of tuna (raw). If the staff feels safe eating it raw, so do I.

The stuff about worms is true.
Most sushi in the United States has been frozen to kill parasites, as required by FDA regulations. Some types of fish are excepted. I think tuna is one.

Did you actually read those studies or just post the links?

Those aren't really studies. They're "events" that happened and NIH recorded them. Those people could have been sick from improper care of the food at their restaurants/locations. I don't eat sushi myself because I'm not a fan of raw fish, but I know quite a few people that eat it every day and I've never heard of anyone having repeated issues or ANY issue of parasites after eating sushi. And I've also never seen or read a peered study where they actually went and tried testing this.

Believe me, I worked in the restaurant business for years. There are parasitic worms in almost all fish. I've seen them many times. Grossed me out so bad I didn't eat sushi for a long time.
However, the danger of a true parasitic infection is fairly low. These worms are small and rarely take up residence in the human body, although they can make you sick for a few days.
This is why the FDA requires most sushi to be made from previously frozen fish.

Losingthedamnweight · June 2014

Was there actually someone out there that didn't know he was full of crap? It's pretty obvious just from the language he uses he's a scam artist. No self respecting doctor would use the words "magic" so much to refer to useless crap