General Info
Define Quackery
The promotion of false medical practices
What is one question you should ask to check if health info is real?
Who is the author and is there evidence.
A skin cream says it is "backed by science" but has no other details explaining what experiments were done. Should you buy this product?
No!
A lack of details is a red flag because they cannot backup their claims
What is one sign that a health source is reliable?
Gives you scientific evidence
Is information on social media fact checked?
NO!
Anybody can say anything they want on social media,and people will say things that are not true in order to sell you something or get you to keep viewing their posts
How can you protect yourself from quackery?
A. Listen to your favorite tik-toker
B. Fact check info
C. It doesn't matter
B
Its important to not believe everything you hear about health, and check with trusted sources
True or False?
If lots of people in comments say it worked then it is true?
False
A weight loss pill claims it has a secret formula that will help you lose 30 pounds in 2 weeks.
Point out the red flags
- "secret formula"
- contradicts common knowledge - you can't lose 30 pounds in 2 weeks
How do you know if a claim is too good to be true?
Not backed up by facts
What is it called when people alter body shape or skin textures in photos?
Photo-editing
Why is Quackery dangerous?
Wastes money, delays real treatment
What's the difference between an anecdote and scientific evidence
Anecdote = one person's story
Evidence = tested on large groups with controls
You are not sure if a product will work, but it has a money back guarantee. Should you buy it?
No!
It is often very difficult or impossible to get your money back, even if there is a guarantee.
True or false?
A website is automatically reliable because it looks professional?
False
Before buying something, should you check who is selling it?
Yes!
Make sure it is a legitimate, trusted company and not a scammer.
What is the main goal of Quackery?
To make money/ profit and not improve
An influencer says "this detox tea made me lose 10 pounds!" Is this beleivable
No!
They showed no evidence or data
Which of the following if a red flag?
A. "Our face lotion uses ancient remedies to heal dry skin!"
B. A diagram of how the lotion works
C. A recommendation by a dermatologist
A
phrases like "ancient remedy", "secret formula" or "miracle" are red flags
Should you always do research on the website beforehand?
Yes!
Make sure it is reliable
Someone is selling a pill to help you lose weight. You don't have to eat differently or exercise to lose the weight. Is this believable?
No!
You have to make lifestyle changes to lose weight and keep it off.
What is one law/act that FDA uses to stop quackery?
FDA can pull products with false labelling
Give 1 or 2 steps to verify a health claim you saw online
- Check if the author has medical credentials
- double check with a trustworthy organization like the CDC or FDA
Give an example of a Red Flag phrase that might indicate quackery
- Miracle formula
- Secret ingredient
- Works instantly!
- Ancient remedy
No!
.org just means that the company payed to be a .org website
Trends can be very influential. What is a negative effect trends can have on people?
- Can be dangerous
- Can cause insecurity