Dr. Mehmet Oz – talk about a polarizing personality. I get questions all the time about the latest supplements and diets about which he's waxed poetic. Usually I just roll my eyes at his outrageous claims and explain why they're not worth the time or money. But thanks to recent events, it's no longer business as usual.

Just a few weeks ago, the cardiothoracic surgeon and host of "The Dr. Oz Show" was brought before the Senate's Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance. They questioned him about his role in perpetuating weight loss quackery and other health scams. It seems a bit harsh, so why are they singling him out?

Oz is in a unique position. Not only does he have the medical training and experience to make him credible, he is also undeniably charismatic. Let's also not forget his entrepreneurial spirit – Oz earned an MBA from the Wharton School. And for years now, the Oprah protégé (he started off appearing as a health expert on her show) has had the power to reach millions through TV and other media.

With all of this combined, we now have what's been dubbed the Dr. Oz Effect. Any recommendation with his name on it sends waves throughout the supplement world. To increase sales, companies selling the kinds of products he endorses have used his name and likeness to imply that he backs their brand.

Oz denies his involvement with specific companies and said he could not be held responsible for their actions. However, he believes his role "is to be a cheerleader for [his] audience" and to give them "hope," admitting that part of that is using "flowery language" when describing such products. And while he doesn't outright lie, I'd say he stretches the truth. A lot.

Green coffee extract, Garcinia cambogia, and raspberry ketones have all been hailed as weight loss miracles (his words, not mine), but the evidence is extremely limited at this point. Most of the studies have been short-term and with small groups of participants. There may have been small positive effects, but are we really talking "revolutionary?" Oz seems to ignore researchers' statements that there is much more work to be done before drawing any conclusions. Case in point: The few studies on green coffee extract have shown an average weight loss of just 5 pounds – not exactly life-changing.

In the subcommittee panel discussion, Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri said, ""I don't get why you need to say this stuff when you know it's not true. When you have this amazing megaphone, why would you cheapen your show? ... With power comes a great deal of responsibility."

History professors would also remind us that "absolute power corrupts absolutely." Perhaps Oz has abandoned his Hippocratic oath for more clandestine motives, but let's be fair here. It's possible that he, too, has been taken in and really believes what he's saying. We all want a miracle pill for perfect health and longevity, so I wouldn't fault him for it. But since he's in a position to influence the nation's health, he does have the burden of responsibility and I'm glad he's getting called out on such a public stage.

So is he the Wizard of "Oz" no more? I doubt it. Sure, his shenanigans may be more subdued, but there will always be plenty of snake oil salesmen out there to suck you in with their promises, and as he puts it, hope. My hope, though, is that maybe – just maybe – this will cause people to think twice before hopping on the latest and greatest diet bandwagon. It may be boring, but a balanced diet and physical activity are the tried and true method for better health, without all of the smoke and mirrors.

Today's post was written by Leia Kedem. Leia Kedem, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian and Nutrition & Wellness Educator covering Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, and Vermilion Counties. She appears weekly on WCIA-3/WCIX-49 and is a biweekly contributor to the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette. She also maintains Facebook and Twitter accounts where she regularly posts health tips and answers nutrition questions for free.