Don't Be An April Fool

Some years ago, during my time as Health & Fitness Editor of a news-stand magazine, I received a press release that proclaimed the launch of FatSox - “the result of developments in textile science and physiology”. Apparently, slimmers’ dreams had been answered in the shape of a disposable sock that drew fat from the body whilst the wearer was exercising. The pounds of lard would literally drain from the wearer’s body.

The press release was slick - five-syllable scientific terms, quotes from experts, nice pic, shiny folder, the works. The motto of the Health & Fitness Editor, though, is the same as that of the spy – 'trust nobody' – and I was therefore more than a touch sceptical (“You have got to be joking” were my exact words, followed by a swift move for the wastepaper bin). At which point I realised that they were. Joking, that is. “For publication on April 1” it said at the top of the page.

This story is a good example of how any scam can be made to look respectable with the right presentation. If I hadn’t known that Esporta Health Clubs – the company behind the press release - were a highly professional company who would never entertain such half-baked claims (except in jest), I would probably have carried on thinking that FatSox was someone’s idea of a serious proposition, and worried about people falling for it. There are always plenty of similarly half-baked claims doing the rounds, preying on people who are trying to lose weight. And most of them have nothing to do with April Fools’ Day.

There’s a saying that will help you to resist these scams: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. So whenever you hear about the latest miracle that will have the pounds draining from your body, remember the fable of the fat-sucking socks and research thoroughly before parting with your money.


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