Every year, millions of innocent people are separated from billions of dollars by one of marketing's greatest hoaxes. The hoax centers on the idea of a weight loss diet for fat people-it is a show too appealing for people to pass up. And like all hoaxes, once the curtains are raised, the victim is surprised to find themselves the star of the show.



Are You Shocked?

Is this one of the silliest things you've heard in a while? Why would someone say something so outrageous?

You are probably at least a little skeptical. Everyone knows weight loss and dieting is a billion-dollar-a-year industry.

Well, here's the thing: if someone is overweight, are they a fat person, or a fat people? I'll bet you answered "a fat person." Of course, you were absolutely right to do so. And in so doing, you also just uncovered one of marketing's greatest hoaxes. This hoax is effectively cleaning out wallets and purses all over America and Canada.

You see, the issue is this: "Fat people" represent a group. And groups don't go on diets. Individuals go on diets!

The Difference Is In "Who's" Fat, Not "What's" Fat!

Groups are formed by noticing similarities. The secret to making really big groups is to notice as FEW similarities as possible.

So when a diet is advertised as "The Diet for Overweight People" and the intention is to speak to all the overweight people on the continent-guess what? You've got it! To make a group this big, they must look at a very few things. In fact, they look at only one thing that all these people have in common. They're fat.

So let's say that 5 overweight people buy "The Diet for Overweight People." Clearly these are all "fat people." They all belong to the "fat people group", right? So this diet is perfect for each and every one of them, right?

NOT!

Check out the facts

* Hormonal imbalances are at the root of George's overweight condition

* Sheila is overweight because she eats a lot of meat and dairy products from producers that make use of growth hormones to fatten up the livestock. Sheila is unaware that this is also fattening her up!

* Peter has hit the over 40 group. Two years ago, he was promoted to an executive position (sitting at a desk with no exercise) from a very active field position (lots of exercise). The result is that Peter's weight issues are tied to a slowing metabolism.

* Margaret began yoyo dieting after her second pregnancy. Now her body has become very efficient at holding on to all the fat that finds its way into her stomach. Her body has also become quite accomplished at manufacturing and storing fat from the food Margaret eats. To make matters worse, her body has gained a military precision in its ability to move while minimizing the amount of calories it burns. Margaret's body has transformed into a fat production and storage machine.

* Barbara looks in the mirror and she sees a fat person. Poor Barbara has struggled to control her weight for years. She is in a constant state of depression because of her failure to lose weight. Unbeknownst to Barbara, but obvious to anyone who sees this poor soul, she is at least 20 pounds underweight! For Barbara, it is only the failed image in the mirror of her mind that is fat.

So Here I Rest My Case:

It is individuals that make up the group called "Fat people." Each of these individuals is struggling with their personalized version of overweight. This fact makes it impossible for there to be a "perfect diet for fat people."

However, it is possible to find the perfect diet for you. All that is required is a little homework and applying a little healthy skepticism when dealing with marketing material.