Evidence-Based or Marketing Scam?
At least once a week I get a DM asking me for my opinion about an exercise program or some other quick bite of Reel-style information.
And frequently, there’s a catchy (and sometimes fantastical) claim:
“Prevent pelvic organ prolapse with this program!”
There are two ways to understand a claim like this: from a medical perspective and from a marketing perspective.
I understand that people are selling things (no shame in that game, I sell stuff, too.)
But when the claim is all pelvic organ prolapse is preventable, my bullshit meter starts to go off.
POP is multifaceted and complicated. So, selling something with the promise that it will prevent POP, is disingenuous at best.
There’s a way to have that conversation without making impossible promises.
A program can offer education and prevention based on what we know, without promising the moon.
But to claim to have the answer for everything and say something is totally preventable, well that’s just a lie.
Programs like these are setting people up for disappointment and a false idea of what is possible.
We need to be critical of these big names. They are big names because they have big marketing budgets. Not because they’ve figured out the Secret Sauce of postpartum prevention.
We can’t be okay with this overstepping of what the evidence supports.
Fear Mongering is a marketing tactic.
I’m not saying these programs are bad, but they are overpromising and under delivering.
Tell me your thoughts. I’d love to know what you’re seeing out there.
