Bombe, I was just thinking this today. I was at the supermarket, wondering if I should buy Shape magazine. I looked at all the headlines ("Lose Ten Pounds this Month," "Thinner Thighs in just 5 Minutes a Day") and realized, my goodness, I've read those articles 1000 times in 1000 places.
The other issue is how everything conflicts. Thighs Be Gone mentions the cholesterol thing, but there's a whole camp of distinguished nutritionists who think we've gone way overboard on that and that processed carbs are the real culprit for both weight and health. And though we've had "diet AND exercise" drilled into our heads, the NY Times recently covered some research suggesting that diet only is best for weight loss, but that exercise is crucial for maintenance. It seems the more you read the more your head spins!