Most controversial health claims made by Dr. Mehmet Oz: Weight loss supplements to anti-cancer foods

Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, stated on Friday that he would fight healthcare fraud and push to make Americans healthier if appointed. CMS will oversee health insurance programs for more than 150 million people nationwide.
A former heart surgeon turned television host, Oz became a household name for Americans, thanks to his long-running program, The Dr. Oz Show, which aired for 13 seasons from 2009 to 2022, through which he advised viewers on nutrition, exercise, and wellness, often recommending supplements and lifestyle changes. While he has given science-backed advice to his viewers such as 'Eat well, move more, prioritize sleep', Dr. Oz also has a record of promoting controversial health claims. As Dr. Oz sees this as a 'monumental opportunity' to make the country healthier, let's take a closer look at times when he promoted health misinformation.
Supplements for weight loss

Dr. Oz faced harsh criticism from senators in 2014, for endorsing diet supplements, particularly green coffee bean extract, which he once called a 'magic weight loss cure'. They accused him of fueling deceptive marketing and also criticized him for promoting products that lacked scientific backing. Oz, however, defended them and said, "I actually do personally believe in the items that I talk about on the show; I passionately study them. I recognize that oftentimes they don’t have the scientific muster to present as fact.”

Dr. Oz also promoted raspberry ketone as “the No. 1 miracle in a bottle to burn your fat.” Later in a 2013 episode, he called Garcinia cambogia “the simple solution you’ve been looking for to bust your body fat for good." He also suggested HCG (pregnancy hormone) aids weight loss, however, scientific evidence is lacking.
Cancer prevention claims

Dr. Oz spoke about the cancer prevention benefits of selenium, a mineral in a 2012 episode. Some research suggests that people who have a selenium deficiency may have an increased risk of developing certain cancers, including colon, rectum, prostate, lung, bladder, skin, esophagus, and stomach, according to the NIH. However, it is unclear whether selenium supplementation reduces the risk of cancer. “Extremely high intakes of selenium can cause severe problems, including difficulty breathing, tremors, kidney failure, heart attacks, and heart failure,” the NIH notes.

Oz has also spoken about anti-cancer foods with his audience. He claims that endive, red onion, and sea bass could decrease the risk of ovarian cancer by up to 75 percent. However, a 2014 paper dismissed the possibility of any such miracle foods.
Lavender for RLS

Among the many wild claims made by Dr. Oz, the lavender for restless leg syndrome really grabbed eyeballs. Restless legs syndrome, also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a common condition of the nervous system that causes an overwhelming irresistible urge to move the legs.
“I know this sounds crazy, but people put it under their sheets. We think the lavender is relaxing and maybe itself beneficial,” Oz said in 2010. Scientists have long debunked such claims.
(Pic courtesy: iStock)