Supplement marketing tricks…

Supplement marketing tricks… 💊

The supplement industry is very good at convincing us that we have a problem and that their product is the solution. Good marketing isn’t the same as scientific evidence.

Here are some common tricks:

1. Appeal to false authority: A celebrity, influencer or even a medical professional isn’t automatically an expert in nutrition. Check whether their qualifications are relevant and whether they’re being paid.

2. The anecdotal fallacy: ‘It worked for me!’ is a personal story, not scientific proof. Testimonials may be genuine, exaggerated or completely fabricated. Even when they’re true, one person’s experience cannot tell us whether something works generally.

3. Straw man arguments: Deliberately misinterpreting someone’s argument to make it easier to attack. E.g if I said ‘most people don’t need supplement X’ that doesn’t mean nobody needs it. People may say ‘well I have a specific medical condition that requires it therefore you’re wrong’ and use that to debunk your argument. People with particular medical needs are not ‘most people.’

4. Attacking the person: ‘Don’t listen to her, she isn’t in shape.’ Someone’s appearance doesn’t determine their knowledge. Equally, a six-pack, white coat or enormous following doesn’t make someone credible. Look at the evidence, not the person.

5. False cause, correlation vs causation: ‘I started taking collagen and my skin improved.’ One happening after the other doesn’t prove it caused it. Perhaps they also changed their diet, skincare, sleep, stress levels or exercise habits.

6. Appeal to emotion: ‘If you cared about your health, you’d buy this.’ This uses fear, guilt or shame to make you buy. Not purchasing an expensive supplement doesn’t mean you don’t care about your health.

Supplements are useful when there’s a genuine need, but ‘natural,’ popular and heavily promoted doesn’t mean it’s necessarily effective or safe. Ask what the claim is based on. Is there good-quality evidence? Is the person qualified? Are they selling something? Could something else explain the result?

Once you recognise these tricks, you’ll see them everywhere. Your health and your bank balance may thank you!

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