Gaining Trust With a Few Pictures and Numbers

The still picture comes from a commercial ad that is marketing Hydroxycut. Hydroxycut is a dietary supplement meant to assist people trying to lose weight. The picture/advertisement is targeted towards all genders ages 18 and up that are looking for a quick way to shed a couple of pounds. Unfortunately not everyone looking at this advertisement keeps an adequate diet and exercise regime. So they end up thinking this is the magic pill that will give them results no matter what they do because of how the product is advertised.

Unfortunately in the U.S. obesity rates have been increasing since 1976 and continue to today, but not as rapid. “Among obese adults, approximately two-thirds have been told by a health care provider that they are overweight” (Centers for Disease Control, 2005). Therefore this issue creates a large enterprise for companies like Hydroxycut to create and sell products that are meant to lose a great amount of weight in a short period of time. I believe the picture targeted towards these kinds of people because for years they have been struggling with weight issues and now there seems to be a cure. These sorts of advertisements can easily persuade one to by their product. In this example the picture shows an actual doctor in a clinical setting with pictures of him before and after the eight weeks he used the product. The picture also includes large numbers beside him representing a positive change in his weight and body measurements. These sorts of messages allow its audience to think that this is the magical pill even a doctor approves. The picture appeals its audience with ethos, logos, and pathos. For example it gives them the feeling of hope to live a healthy and attractive life with the use of a little bit of numbers and a real sittuation.

I would say the main lure of this image is Dr. Jon Marshal wearing his lab coat and the large white numbers beside him. Those are the most important parts of the picture because it gives it the credibility it needs to gain the audiences trust. The less attracting parts of the picture that still give it positive credibility is the clinical setting, the small image of Dr. Marshal before and after he used the product, and to seal the deal some background information on Dr. Marshal and where he got his M.D. from. The image clearly emphasizes that the product will work if you buy it and use it. Especially since it was used by a doctor and got positive result. The only thing that ad is missing is that to in order to see the same results the Dr. did you must have a well balanced diet and exercise regime. Two things everyone just loves to do every day.