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