Today the worldwide prevalence of obesity is increasing, both in rich and poor countries. This global epidemic is reaching pandemic proportions, and can be attributed to a number of factors. Contributing to the problem are insatiable cravings for sweets, hormone imbalances and related endocrine disorders, and easy access to inexpensive junk food that poses a long-term risk to health.

As a result, there is huge demand for products that would combat obesity - and an ever increasing supply. Many people claim they have discovered a miraculous weight loss cure, or fat burning liquid or other substance that can make one slim with no effort. As a consequence, separating legitimate claims and scientific novelties from scam and pseudoscience that can only make you poorer, not slimmer, is more and more difficult.

Experimental evidence can help you tell a sham diet from the real thing. If some weight loss cure claims results that sound too good to be true, they probably are. The support of doctors (the more the better) is far more important when assessing the merits of a diet plan than easily faked pictures or anonymous numerical claims.

You can also support your choice by inspecting the science underlying any particular scheme or weight loss cure. If the author describes the processes that create the desirable outcome, allowing for things like resetting the hypothalamus or getting new taste for healthy foods, he or she instantly gains some credibility.