Dr. Oz diet tips were reportedly "harshly criticized by a skeptical Senate panel." According to Yahoo News, Dr. Mehmet Oz, the TV physician was scolded over "his claims that certain weight loss products can be "miracles" and "lightning in a bottle," forcing Oz to defend himself as a "cheerleader" for people trying to lose weight."

Time reported that the host of Dr. Oz Show was called by Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill to appear at a hearing on deceptive advertising claims for weight loss products after recent endorsements made on his show. The senator told Oz to be responsible in using his influence since he is not just a TV personality but a medical professional.

"Your credibility is being maligned by fraudsters and frankly being threatened by the notion that anybody can take an itty bitty pill to push fat out of their system," McCaskill said to Oz during the hearing.

Reportedly, Oz's weak argument came down to approving that television and sound medical advice don't really mix.

"I actually do personally believe in the items that I talk about on the show. I passionately study them. I recognize that oftentimes they don't have the scientific muster to pass as fact... My job, I feel, on the show is to be a cheerleader for the audience. And when they don't think they have hope, when they don't think they can make it happen I want to look everywhere, including at alternative healing traditions for any evidence that might be supportive to them," Oz said.

"I use language that is very passionate... and it provided fodder for the unscrupulous advertisers," he added.

Reportedly, hearing was called by McCaskill not to "beat up" on Oz, but instead because of a "crisis in consumer protection" and Oz said he came because he wants to "be part of the solution not part of the problem."

According to Time, the hearing follows implementation actions taken this year against companies engaged in deceptive advertising.