Is Oprah Giving Unhealthy Advice?

The Early Show aired a segment that basically questioned whether Oprah Winfrey was dishing out advice on her talk show that is potentially harmful to her over 40 million viewers.  CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller pointed to an investigative report in this week’s issue of Newsweek magazine, which specifically questions the "Oprah Effect."

I guess it is important to look at what Oprah says on her show since she really does have a lot of influence.  I can think of three things ((the Neti Pot, Acai berry and rolf therapy), right off the top of my head, that I tried just because I saw it on Oprah and I trust her.   I will also admit that I didn’t even look up whether these things were actually good for me because I believed Oprah wouldn’t recommend something that was dangerous.  What an obedient little sheep!

Anyway, the Newsweek article claims that Oprah “has managed to validate health claims that most people would call "real crackpot ideas.’”   The senior editor of the publication told CBS News:  "Some of the advice she gives, especially with regard to health and medicine, is not good advice.  Sometimes the advice guests give on the show could actually hurt you."

Among the things that they named were Jenny McCarthy’s theories about about the link between vaccinations and autism as well as the assertion that hormone replacement therapy can keep you young (according to Suzanne Somers).   The problem, Newsweek says, is that viewers are not given all of the information to make an informed decision.  I guess I could see that point.

Oprah had a response to the criticism:  "For 23 years, my show has presented thousands of topics that reflect the human experience, including doctors’ medical advice and personal health stories that have prompted conversations between our audience members and their health care providers…I trust the viewers, and I know that they are smart and discerning enough to seek out medical opinions to determine what may be best for them."

What do you think?  Is Oprah being reckless with her health advice? 

image: Bauer-Griffin