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FDA/FTC/NAAG Brochure*: 1992
        The Facts About Weight Loss Products and Programs
Presented as a Public Service by:
     Federal Trade Commission
     Food and Drug Administration
     National Association of Attorneys General
                     The Weight-Loss Industry
     Looking for a quick and easy way to lose weight? You're not
alone. An estimated 50 million Americans will go on diets this
year. And while some will succeed in taking the weight off, very
few --perhaps 5 percent--will manage to keep all of it off in the
long run.
     One reason for the low success rate is that many people look
for quick and easy solutions to their weight problems. They find it
hard to believe in this age of scientific innovations and medical
miracles that an effortless weight-loss method doesn't exist.
     So they succumb to quick-fix claims like "Eat All You Want and
Still Lose Weight!" or "Melt Fat Away-While You Sleep!" And they
invest their hopes (and their money) in all manner of pills,
potions, gadgets, and programs that hold the promise of a slimmer,
happier future.
     The weight-loss business is a booming industry. Americans
spend an estimated $30 billion a year on all types of diet programs
and products, including diet foods and drinks. Trying to sort out
all of the competing claims--often misleading, unproven, or just
plain false--can be confusing and costly.
     This brochure is designed to give you the facts behind the
claims, to help you avoid the outright scams, and to encourage you
to consider thoroughly the costs and consequences of the dieting
decisions you make.
                   The Facts About Weight Loss
     Being obese can have serious health consequences. These
include an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood
pressure, diabetes, gallstones, and some forms of cancer. Losing
weight can help reduce these risks. Here are some general points to
keep in mind:
-    Any claims that you can lose weight effortlessly arefalse.  The
only proven way to lose weight is either to reduce the number of
calories you eat or to increase the number of calories you burn
off through exercise. Most experts recommend a combination of
both.
-    Very low-calorie diets are not without risk and should be pursued
only under medical supervision.  Unsupervised very low-calorie diets
can deprive you of important nutrients and are potentially dangerous.
-    Fad diets rarely have any permanent effect. Sudden and radical
changes in your eating patterns are difficult to sustain over time. In
addition, so-called "crash" diets often send dieters into a cycle of
quick weight loss, followed by a "rebound" weight gain once normal
eating resumes, and even more difficulty reducing when the next diet
is attempted.
-To lose weight safely and keep it off requires long-term changes in
daily eating and exercise habits. Many experts recommend a goal of
losing about a pound a week. A modest reduction of 500 calories per day
will achieve this goal, since a total reduction  of 3,500 calories is
required to lose a pound of fat. An important way to lower your calorie
intake is to learn and practice healthy eating habits.
                 In Search of the "Magic Bullet"
     Some dieters peg their hopes on pills and capsules that
promise to "burn," "block," "flush," or otherwise eliminate fat
from the system. But science has yet to come up with a low-risk
"magic bullet" for weight loss. Some pills may help control the
appetite, but they can have serious side effects. (Amphetamines,
for instance, are highly addictive and can have an adverse impact
on the heart and central nervous system.) Other pills are utterly
worthless.
     The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a number of state
Attorney General have successfully brought cases against marketers
of pills claiming to absorb or burn fat. The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has banned 111 ingredients once found in
over-the-counter diet products. None of these substances, which
include alcohol, caffeine, dextrose, and guar gum, have proved
effective in weight-loss or appetite suppression.
     Beware of the following products that are touted as weight-loss
wonders:
-  Diet patches, which are worn on the skin, have not been proven
to be safe or effective. The FDA has seized millions of these
products from manufacturers and promoters.
-  "Fat blockers" purport to physically absorb fat and mechanically
interfere with the fat a person eats.
-  "Starch blockers" promise to block or impede starch digestion.
Not only is the claim unproven, but users have complained of
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pains.
-  "Magnet" diet pills allegedly "flush fat out of the body." The
FTC has brought legal action against several marketers of these
pills.
- Glucomannan is advertised as the "Weight Loss Secret That's Been
in the Orient for Over 500 Years." There is little evidence
supporting this plant root's effectiveness as a weight-loss
product.
-  Some bulk producers or fillers, such as fiber-based products,
may absorb liquid and swell in the stomach, thereby reducing
hunger. Some fillers, such as guar gum, can even prove harmful,
causing obstructions in the intestines, stomach, or esophagus. The
FDA has taken legal action against several promoters containing
guar gum.
-  Spirulina, a species of blue-green algae, has not been proven
effective for losing weight.
                    Phony Devices and Gadgets
   Phony weight-loss devices range from those that are simply
ineffective to those that are truly dangerous to your health. At
minimum, they are a waste of your hard-earned money. Some of the
fraudulent gadgets that have been marketed to hopeful dieters over
the years include:
-  Electrical muscle stimulators have legitimate use in physical
therapy treatment. But the FDA has taken a number of them off the
market because they were promoted for weight loss and body toning.
When used incorrectly, muscle stimulators can be dangerous, causing
electrical shocks and burns.
-  "Appetite suppressing eyeglasses" are common eyeglasses with
colored lenses that claim to project an image to the retina which
dampens the desire to eat. There is no evidence these work.
-  "Magic weight-loss earrings" and devices custom-fitted to the
purchaser's ear that purport to stimulate acupuncture points
controlling hunger have not been proven effective.
                          Diet Programs
   Approximately 8 million Americans a year enroll in some kind of
structured weight-loss program involving liquid diets, special diet
regimens, or medical or other supervision. In 1991, about 8,500
commercial diet centers were in operation across the country, many
of them owned by a half-dozen or so well-known national companies.
   Before you join such a program, you should know that according
to published studies relatively few participants succeed in keeping
off weight long-term. Recently, the FTC brought action against
several companies challenging weight-loss and weight-maintenance
claims. Unfortunately, some other companies continue to make
overblown claims.
   The FTC stopped one company from claiming it diet program caused
rapid weight loss through the use of tablets the would "burn fat"
and a protein drink mix that would adjust metabolism. The FTC also
took action against three major programs using doctor-supervised,
very low-calorie liquid diets, and they agreed to stop making
unless they could back them up with hard data.
   Before you sign up with a diet program, you might ask these
questions:
-  What are the health risks?
-  What data can you show me that proves your program actually   works?
-  Do customers keep off the weight after they leave the diet    program?
-  What are the costs for membership, weekly fees, food,    supplements,
maintenance, and counseling? What's the payment     schedule? Are any
costs covered under health insurance? Do you   give refunds if I drop
out?
-  Do you have a maintenance program? Is it part of the package or    does
it cost extra?
-  What kind of professional supervision is provided? What are the
credentials of these professionals?
-  What are the program;s requirements? Are there special menus or
foods, counseling visits, or exercise plans?
                          Clues to Fraud
It is important for consumers to be wary of claims that sound too
good to be true. When it comes to weight-loss schemes, consumers
should be particularly skeptical of claims containing words and
phrases like:
- easy
- effortless
- guaranteed
- miraculous
- magical
- breakthrough
- new discovery
- mysterious
- exotic
- secret
- exclusive
- ancient
                 Sensible Weight Maintenance Tips
Losing weight may not be effortless, but it doesn't have to be
complicated. To achieve long-term results, it's best to avoid
quick-fix schemes and complex regimens. Focus instead on making
modest changes to your life's daily routine. A balanced, healthy
diet and sensible, regular exercise are the keys to maintaining
your ideal weight. Although nutrition science is constantly
evolving, here are some generally-accepted guidelines for losing
weight:
-  Consult with your doctor, a dietician, or other qualified health
professional to determine your ideal healthy body weight.
-  Eat smaller portions and choose from a variety of foods.
-  Load up on foods naturally high in fiber: Fruits, vegetables,
legumes, and whole grains.
-  Limit portions of foods high in fat: dairy products like cheese,
butter, and whole milk; red meat; cakes and pastries.
-  Exercise at least three times a week.
                     For Help and Information
   The Federal Trade Commission had jurisdiction over advertising
and marketing of foods, non-prescription drugs, medical devices,
and health care services. The FTC can seek federal court
injunctions to halt fraudulent claims and obtain redress for
injured consumers.
   The Food and Drug Administration has jurisdiction over the
content and labeling of foods, drugs, and medical devices. The FDA
can take law enforcement action to seize and prohibit the sale of
products that are falsely labeled.
   Most state Attorney General have authority under state consumer
protection statutes to investigate and prosecute unfair or
deceptive acts and practices. Many have the power to seek consumer
restitution, civil fines, and revocation of a company's authority
to do business.
   To get more information or to file complaints about weight-loss
products or programs, write:
Federal Trade Commission
Correspondence Branch
Washington, D.C. 20580
or
Food and Drug Administration
Consumer Affairs and Information
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
or
Your State Attorney General
Office of Consumer Protection
Your State Capital
DHHS Publication No (FDA) 92-1189