Major Weight Loss Companies Hit by FTC

If you're thinking of trying a weight loss pill this year to follow through with your New Year's resolutions to lose weight, you may want to think again. The FTC has just posted a press release on their site citing that four major weight loss pills have been hit with a major lawsuit for making unsubstantiated marketing claims. TrimSpa, Cortislim, One-A-Day Weight Smart and Xendarine EFX have all settled the lawsuit with combined assets of over $25 million. Each of these products will also have to limit their advertising claims.

TrimSpa - this product was made popular by the incredible weight loss transformation of former playmate Anna Nicole Smith. In November 2005 TrimSpa was analyzed by Consumer Lab and found to contain 42% more chromium than claimed. High levels of chromium may be toxic and lead to long-term negative effects. According to CL, Trimspa's label claims have not been met and it is not approved for use (by them).

And now, Nutramerica, the makers of TrimSpa have been hit with another allegation for making false weight loss claims that are not backed by scientific evidence.

Xenadrine EFX - in a 2005 study Consumer Lab found that Xenadrine EFX contained three times the amount of caffeine listed on its label. The label stated that caffeine contained in the product was equivalent to one cup of coffee. Consumer Lab found that there was actually 448 mg of caffeine in a daily dosage of Xenadrine EFX. Doses over 250-300 mg of caffeine per day have been linked to irregular heart rhythms.

And now they are being hit again for making untrue allegations about their product. Upon analysis of some of their studies it was found that those taking Xenadrine EFX actually lost less weight than the control group who were taking a placebo product.

Cortislim - in 2005 Pinnacle Marketing Concepts Inc., the company's president Thomas Cheung and Shawn Talbott settled a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission, which alleged false marketing claims for CortiSlim and CortiStress. The marketers claimed that the products caused rapid, long-term and permanent weight loss. The FTC also alleged that commercials included several untrue statements, reporting that CortiSlim users lost 4 to 10 pounds per week and that users were guaranteed to lose between 10 to 50 pounds. The defendants settled for $4.5 million. Other defendants named in the suit who did not settle in 2005 included Window Rock Enterprises Inc., the makers of CortiSlim.

And now, they are being charged with making false claims about their products as they stated that their products can help with the prevention of serious health conditions and cause rapid, substantial, and permanent weight loss in all users, which is a pretty bold statement.

One-A-Day Weight Smart - the makers of this multivitamin which is also a weight loss supplement also were in violation of making false claims about their product.

These companies have obviously been under the FTC's radar for sometime and it's apparent that this isn't the first time they have been hit with a lawsuit. Knowing this you would think they would get their act together and try to be compliant, which they obviously haven't.

For coverage on this story check out the FTC's website
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/01/weightloss.htm