Health & Fitness

Looking for a product to help you lose weight? Ask some questions before you plunk down any money. For example: “Will I really lose a pound a day if I squirt a few drops of homeopathic hCG weight loss drops under my tongue before I eat?” No, you won’t, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s recent settlement with HCG Diet Direct, LLC, a company that marketed and sold the drops.

Adults living at home, in an assisted living facility or a nursing home may use portable bed rails for help getting in and out of bed. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have new resources for consumers, caregivers, and health care providers about bed rails — how to shop for them, how to install and use them safely, what risks they may create, and where to report a problem.

The most reliable way to lose weight and keep it off? Consume fewer calories and get more exercise.

We’re all consumers and information is the first line of defense in the marketplace. Everyone can benefit from amping up their consumer know-how and getting the inside skinny on avoiding scams. That’s true for servicemembers, veterans, and their families, too. And that’s the spirit behind Military Consumer Protection Day, July 17. The FTC, the Department of Defense, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Military Saves have teamed up for this first ever MCPD to kick off a year-round campaign to empower the military and veteran communities.