Hims & Hers Super Bowl Ad: The Fallacies Behind Their Bold Claims

The Hims & Hers Super Bowl ad made some bold claims—about weight loss, Big Pharma, and a healthcare system designed to keep us "sick & stuck." But how much of it is true, and how much is just smart marketing?

Let’s break it down, fact-check their messaging, and highlight the logical fallacies they used to sell their solution.

The ad states that 74% of Americans are OVERWEIGHT. That’s not actually true.

According to the latest NHANES data, 74% of Americans are overweight OR obese—a big difference. The breakdown?

• 31% are classified as overweight
• 43% are classified as obese

So technically, the ad is misleading from the jump. I guess they should've fact-checked ChatGPTs stats. 

They also describe obesity as "America's deadliest epidemic". This is a perfect example of False Cause (Post Hoc Fallacy):

🔹 Fallacy: Suggesting that obesity directly causes half a million deaths each year, without considering other contributing factors like genetics, socioeconomic status, or comorbidities.
🔹 Why It’s a Fallacy: Correlation does not equal causation. While obesity is linked to health risks, many variables affect mortality, and this oversimplifies a complex issue.

What they did get right? The weight loss industry does feed on failure. Estimates on the market’s value vary, but it’s easily in the billions, with weight loss drugs alone expected to hit $150 billion by 2032 (US News & World Report).

The ad claims the healthcare system is designed to keep people “sick & stuck.”

This is a great example of the Appeal to Emotion:

🔹 Fallacy: Using fear and frustration to make the audience feel powerless—“The system is broken,” “Something's keeping us sick and stuck.”
🔹 Why It’s a Fallacy: It tugs at emotions instead of providing objective evidence. This framing makes viewers more likely to accept the company’s solution (compounded medications) without questioning its validity.

It also uses the Strawman Argument:

🔹 Fallacy: The ad implies that the entire medical system is designed to keep people sick and that weight loss medications are intentionally priced for profit, not patients.
🔹 Why It’s a Fallacy: It distorts the reality of healthcare by oversimplifying systemic issues and ignoring factors like research costs, regulation, and the role of insurers.

Hims & Hers is selling compounded versions of Big Pharma drugs. It's important to understand the difference between compounded and FDA-approved medications. 

Compounded drugs are not the same as generics.

• Generics = FDA-approved versions of name-brand meds that have gone off patent (think Nexium vs. omeprazole).
• Compounded meds = Custom-mixed versions of drugs that don’t go through the same rigorous FDA trials.

A little more about compounded drugs:

Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, meaning they lack standardized labeling such as black box warnings, side effect disclosures, or risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS). Unlike FDA-approved drugs, which must follow strict advertising rules, compounded drug marketing falls under FTC jurisdiction, allowing for more flexible promotion with fewer risk disclosures.

While compounding serves legitimate medical purposes—such as dose adjustments, allergy-friendly formulations, or addressing shortages—these medications do not undergo the same rigorous clinical trials as FDA-approved drugs. This makes safety, efficacy, and consistency less predictable.

For clinicians, it’s critical to educate patients on the key differences between compounded and FDA-approved medications, particularly when discussing long-term treatment options.

The ad closes by saying "Join us in the fight for a healthier America."

A textbook example of the Appeal to Popularity (Bandwagon Fallacy):

🔹 Fallacy: "Join us in the fight for a healthier America" suggests that using Hims & Hers medications is part of a larger movement.
🔹 Why It’s a Fallacy: Just because many people support an idea doesn’t make it true or beneficial. This is a classic marketing strategy to create a sense of belonging.

This ad is a masterclass in persuasion, but it’s also packed with logical fallacies that oversimplify weight loss and villainize the healthcare system. 

3 Big Takeaways for You and Your Patients

1. Be skeptical of big claims in ads—especially when they involve stats. Brands spin numbers to fit their narrative.
2. Understand the difference between compounded and FDA-approved meds—they are not the same thing, and safety matters.
3. Regulations exist for a reason—if a drug ad doesn’t have fine print, ask why.

Advertising is all about persuasion, and this ad was very persuasive. But knowing the facts? That’s power.

Anti-obesity medications can be life-changing for our patients. But they should be used with a comprehensive team that can support the patient's weight loss journey.

What do you think—was the Hims & Hers ad brilliant marketing, or did it cross a line?