The media has a significant influence on the public and their intake of information, thereby empowering its members to take a variety of positions regarding its dissemination, including factual and false claims regarding products and services. On Facebook, for instance, information can spread quickly and assume a life of its own on this platform, thereby creating an environment in which false information can be spread as fact and the truth can be spread as a falsehood. Distinguishing between fact and fiction in this manner requires the identification of information that can be proven via scientific evidence or other means to determine if it is truth or fiction. The following discussion will evaluate a Facebook post regarding the use of apple cider vinegar and if it can stimulate significant weight loss, based upon scientific evidence to support this claim.
Factuality
Apple cider vinegar is believed to provide numerous benefits to improve health and is recognized as a potential product to stimulate weight loss; however, according to Kohn (2015), this option is not yet proven to have an impact on metabolism and is not well tolerated by some patients due to the acidity of the product and the nausea that often occurs upon consumption. Therefore, it is not proven by scientific evidence to promote weight loss in patients, although it is safe for consumption in persons who can tolerate its acidic makeup (Kohn, 2015). In another study by Morgan & Mosawy (2016), however, apple cider vinegar can potentially stimulate weight loss due to some of its ingredients, but the production of this type of vinegar leads to numerous types of the substance, all of which are not created equal and can have different impacts. Finally, when apple cider vinegar is capable of promoting weight loss, the acetic acid within this product is the primary reason for this potential (Chen, Chen, Giudici, & Chen, 2016).
Validity
The Facebook post under consideration does not present a valid argument regarding apple cider vinegar because it exaggerates its potential benefits and has not yet been proven to �loose belly fat and retain toned muscle naturally� based upon scientific evidence to date. This post appears to be suspicious and its claims suspect for many reasons, including the following: the use of capital letters throughout the post aims to provide greater impact and exaggerates the benefits of the substance; the post uses some words incorrectly; the post does not provide a price for the product; its origins appear to be internationally based; the only contact information provided is through Facebook messenger or via Whatsapp, without a true phone number or email address; and the photos are provided for effect but do not seem realistic. Therefore, this post is most likely false or highly exaggerated for effect despite the limitations of the use of apple cider vinegar for weight loss.
Potential Outcomes
For some readers, it is possible that they will be attracted to this post and the promise of a miracle cure to lose weight, and they may contact the poster as recommended. However, this is more than likely a scam and a means of obtaining personal information from individuals, thereby creating a risky situation for the individual who is taken advantage of by the post and its message. Facebook may not always be the most practical place to obtain advertisements because many of these are exaggerated or are simply false and are created for the intent to scam users out of their personal information and money. The promise of significant weight loss by using apple cider vinegar, however, has not been proven with scientific evidence and contradicts the claims made in this post.
- Chen, H., Chen, T., Giudici, P., & Chen, F. (2016). Vinegar functions on health: Constituents, sources, and formation mechanisms.�Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety,�15(6), 1124-1138.
- Durban factory shops and business advertising (n.d.). In Facebook. Retrieved March 17, 2018, from https://www.facebook.com/groups/413026459033188/permalink/595250497477449/
- Kohn, J. B. (2015). Is vinegar an effective treatment for glycemic control or weight Loss?�Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics,�115(7), 1188.
- Morgan, J., & Mosawy, S. (2016). The potential of apple cider vinegar in the management of type 2 diabetes.�International Journal of Diabetes Research,�5(6), 129-134.
