Weight Loss

Do the ingredients black seed powder, organic honey and organic lemon cure any cancer? No, that's not true: A clinical dietician told Lead Stories that none of these foods are a cure for cancer. A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spokesperson also told Lead Stories this regimen "has not been proven to cure cancer." The claim appeared in a post…

Is there a homemade drinkable concoction that can cause penile enlargement? No, that's not true: There is not a mixture that can be made with ingredients found at home that can enlarge a penis, and the post making the claim does not provide a recipe for such. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any homemade penile enlargement…

As a "settlement" for raising prices "unfairly," is Target giving out $500 gift cards to people who shopped with them during the fourth fiscal quarter of 2022 and who will answer three questions? No, that's not true: A Target spokesperson denied this claim. There is also no evidence on Target's official website that this alleged offer of a "settlement" is…

Has Oscar-winning actress and humanitarian activist Angelina Jolie passed away as of December 7, 2022? No, that's not true: No credible news organizations have reported her death as of December 7, 2022, and TIME magazine published on December 7, 2022, a recent video interview she conducted. The claim appeared on the website mz24news.com on December 6, 2022. The headline read:…

Is an online video advertisement realistic in implying that people can rapidly lose weight by applying herbal oil that contains ginger and glycerin on their skin? No, that's not true: This is a misleading ad. The Lancet Commission on Obesity co-chair told Lead Stories there is not enough scientific evidence to prove this product works, and a weight loss doctor…

Do wristbands that use ultrasonic therapy help people liquefy fat cells and promote blood circulation? No, that's not true: The former president of The Obesity Society told Lead Stories there is no evidence in established scientific journals that these wristbands work. The website where people can buy the wristband has a disclaimer recommending a combination of a balanced diet and…

Can a drink made up of mango, banana, unsweetened coconut and pineapple enable a person to shed "15 pounds in 21 days"? No, that's not true: A clinical dietician told Lead Stories this diet is not recommended and adversely lowers a person's body muscle and metabolism. A medical doctor specializing in weight loss said all these fruits should be eaten…

Is an online video advertisement realistic in showing people having inflammation reduced due to wearing a piece of jewelry? No, that's not true: Clinical studies that included multiple forms of arthritis, done by credible clinics and medical doctors, have debunked this claim. The McGill University Office for Science and Society director, seen in one of the edited clips in this…

Have celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and country music singer Reba McEntire recently launched their own keto weight loss line of products on live TV? No, that's not true: This is false advertising and follows a formula that is used again and again, featuring spoofed websites that mimic trusted outlets and bounce users to unknown and untraceable affiliate links. There…

Is cheese addictive because eating it produces casomorphin, a highly addictive opiate that has a similar effect on the brain as do "drugs, alcohol and sex"? No, that's not true: Though cheese can bind to neural cells in the same way that some drugs do, including opiates, experts with whom Lead Stories spoke said there is no definitive evidence that…