Oz the Wizard

I am officially fed up with Mehmet Oz. If I needed heart surgery, I would consider using him. Other than that, he doesn't have much to tell me. This has to be said because I hear so many people talking about things they learned from the Dr. Oz Show. In turn, naturally, I recorded some episodes and took a listen. What I saw was not very impressive.

A couple weeks ago I talked about the human tendency towards complexity. Here it is. Related to our proclivity for complex strategies is our tendency towards newness. Meaning, human are drawn towards novelty. In fact, we have a specific, and powerful, emotion that deals with new or unexpected things. That emotion is surprise.

As you probably know, humans habitualize just about everything. We live in a complex world and our brains can only handle so much. To free up computing power we form habits and routines. These habits and routines allow us to not have to consciously think about what we're doing. If you are driving to work, via the same route you've always taken, your subconscious is able to do most of the work.

The problem with becoming so use to our surroundings is that it can put us in danger. When an event takes an unexpected twist, it's a good thing the subconscious brain has a protection mechanism. That mechanism is the emotion of surprise. Whenever we're surprised we snap to immediate attention. Whatever caused us to be surprised gets our full and undivided attention. This is important, it helps keep us alive.

One of the ways the subconscious mind keeps us safe is by being programmed to scan the environment for new events and new phenomenon. If we don't recognize the changes around us we can be put at risk. Though we may not be aware of it, our brain is vigilantly, and constantly, scanning the environment for anything out of the ordinary. Anything new. Mehmet Oz knows this and he is exploiting us for his benefit.

Perhaps you heard that Dr. Oz was recently called to appear in front of the United States Congress. The reason for this appearance was because he has made exaggerated, and unsubstantiated claims, about weight loss products. I won't elaborate on this issue. If you want to, you can read articles online. What bothers me is something else. Though it is related to weight loss, it's something that very few people are talking about.

A while back Oz talked about something called “obesogens.” The idea is that an obesogen is a environmental chemical, which we ingest, and it causes us to get fat. Now, of course Oz would talk about this subject because Americans are obsessed with weight loss secrets. The problem is most of these gimmicks don't work. And, when these secrets don't work, it can make people mad. If enough people complain, you might end up in front of Congress.

What disturbs me the most is the fact that the research on obesogens is still in its infancy. It is far from conclusive. But that didn't stop Mehmet Oz. Nope. He discussed the subject as though it is a well established fact. It's not. There's still an article, on his website, which I refuse to link to, that talks about obesogens. And, like a slimy little devil, it's full of the words “can” and “could.”

Don't get me wrong, I'm not naïve. I understand how television works. The news is constantly reporting on research projects without the slightest bit of context. Because the news programs, and Dr. Oz, are not paid to tell you the truth. They get paid to sell advertising. They are paid to keep your attention. I know that might sound a little cynical but, you know it's true.

Think about it, if Oz told you timeless principles, and truths, he would soon run out of material. And then you wouldn't pay attention. By talking about everything new thing, even if it is false, the doctor always has something to discuss. What's more, he can manipulate your emotional circuitry to keep you watching. Dr. Oz's goal is to keep you surprised and scared. Two powerful emotions that will keep you watching. And will allow him to sell his advertising slots for more money.

I understand how the game works. But that doesn't make it right. The biggest issue is that Oz is presenting himself as a doctor. And, while it is true that he has a medical degree, Dr. Oz's specialty is cardiology. Have you ever gone to a cardiologist with a skin problem? I doubt it. And, if you did, I hope that doctor refused to answer your questions. I hope that doctor referred you to a dermatologist. Because that's what good doctors do. They understand their limits and they stay within the lines.

The problem, of course, is that if Dr. Oz stuck to his area of expertise he would bore you to tears. How long could you possibly listen to a discussion about the heart? I don't imagine it would be very long. So, Oz ventures out into territory that he doesn't understand very well. And, it makes sense that he would do this. It's all in the incentive structure. As I've stated, Mehmet Oz is not rewarded for getting you healthy. His reward comes from advertisers with deep pockets.

It is not my intention to be negative or mean. If you have a health issue, by all means, consult an expert. You might also want to read up on the subject. One great resource would, of course, be books. Most books do not contain advertising. The goal of a book is to get things right so that more people will buy the book. Unfortunately, that's not the way it works on television. It's time for Dr. Oz to either get more honest or be called on the carpet more often.

By the way, one might note, this blog does not contain advertising. I am committed to avoiding this (sometimes) perverse incentive structure. I'm not against advertising. I'm against some of the things it can motivate people to do. It can make a good doctor become deceitful.