Best Life or Risky Advice?

The Oprah Effect on the marketplace is legendary. She mentions the name of a book, it goes to No.1. She mentions a new wrinkle cream that she likes, it sells out. To many in her audience, the message is clear. Oprah, with her billions and her Rolodex of experts, doesn’t have to settle for second best. If she says something is good, it must be. But when it comes to health advice, things can get a little dicey. Some of the many experts who cross her stage offer interesting and useful information. Others, not so much. Oprah would probably not agree with this assessment. She declined to be interviewed for this article, but in a statement she said, “The guests we feature often share their first-person stories in an effort to inform the audience and put a human face on topics relevant to them. I’ve been saying for years that people are responsible for their actions and their own well-being. I believe my viewers understand the medical information presented on the show is just that—information—not an endorsement or prescription. Rather, my intention is for our viewers to take the information and engage in a dialogue with their medical practitioners about what may be right for them.” Here are five shows that may be remembered for all the wrong reasons: