Consumer advocates are the people who are responsible for resolving regional, national, and international consumer issues. They help each individual to become a better health consumer by testing products and determining which ones are effective or defective. In this way, they can inform the public about the product’s potential problems or concerns.

The term malpractice is defined as the negligence or failure committed by a health professional in terms of providing adequate treatment and in meeting the accepted standards.

The term health fraud (also known as quackery) is defined as the act of selling ineffective, unsafe products and services which claim to cure health problems and other medical conditions.

Health consumers must play an active role to ensure that products and services accurately reflect what was provided for them. Since these products and services affect an individual’s health, it is important to speak up or take action when something is not right or incorrectly presented.

If an insurance service provider states that they will cover a necessary procedure and then bills the consumer, the individual can speak up about it. Since the insurance provider was not true to their word, individuals can find another one that can give them better healthcare. Similarly, if a product is defective such as a blood pressure monitor, health consumers can ask for a refund.

Health consumers should be able to take charge of their health and this includes getting the best care possible and protecting themselves from defective products or inadequate health services.

As we can see from the list of claims, the products they are advertising all provide miraculous results which happen immediately. A “cure all” that happens “instantly”.

Examples would include something that can cure an illness or reverse aging with immediate results when taking the product.

This is why it is important to do research and speak with professionals to ensure that you are getting proper care. Since these products and services have not been tested, it is important to protect oneself and conduct appropriate action (e.g. speaking to professionals or researching reliable sources for information).

Here is a sample text message that would warn your friend about the unrealistic claims in weight-loss products:

If you think that the best thing to do for your health is to lose weight, then I totally support that. However, I want you to know that you should be cautious about the claims for the weight-loss products that seem too good to be true. If it promises a quick fix, then the chances are very high that this product would cause more harm than good. Please be careful because there are many dietary supplements, which are not FDA-approved, that are available in the market.

I suggest that it is best to have an appointment with a health professional, particularly a registered dietician, for asking information about the nutrients that should be in your diet. In this way, you would be guided with the things that you should do or avoid as you go through your weight loss journey.

Olivia has been obese since she was five. When she went into high school, she lost her focus and she felt very unloved. She was so desperate to lose weight that she considered taking slimming pills. One day, she browsed the internet and found weight-loss pills that seem to be getting pretty good reviews and massive results. Finally, she decided to order the pills and hoped that the miracle pills would burn the fats fast.

Within hours after taking the pills, she began to feel the unpleasant effects. Her hands were shaking and her heart was beating way too fast. She felt dizzy and nauseous. She tolerated these things for three days with a glint of hope that some kind of miracle would happen. On the fourth day, she was surprised that she had already lost 10 pounds. However, when she took another pill that day, she felt a pain in her chest. She thought she was about to have a heart attack. She had no choice but to call for help while she struggled to get the tablet out of her.

When Olivia’s mom saw her own daughter, she immediately threw the pills away and rushed her to the hospital. Upon talking to several health professionals, they found out that it is a case of health fraud. Olivia was very lucky that she did not have a cardiac arrest.

From this traumatic experience, Olivia was so adamant that she would never put herself in the same situation again. She decided that it is her duty to let everyone know her story in order to become aware that health fraud is a serious issue. With this goal in her mind, she finally decided to put up video blogs that would educate the youth on how to become wiser consumers and healthier individuals.

Olivia has been obese since she was five. When she went into high school, she lost her focus and she felt very unloved. She was so desperate to lose weight that she considered taking slimming pills. One day, she browsed the internet and found weight-loss pills that seem to be getting pretty good reviews and massive results. Finally, she decided to order the pills and hoped that the miracle pills would burn the fats fast. (Click to see the full solution)