Some of the biggest names in the weight loss business have pledged to give consumers looking to shed excess pounds better information about how much diet products and programs will cost, the risks involved and the benefits of even moderate weight loss. But the coalition has not reached agreement on how businesses can provide clients with an accurate measure of typical weight loss. Slim Fast , Jenny Craig , Weight Watchers and Novartis Nutrition Corp., which runs the Optifast plan, were among the coalition's industry participants. Dennis said the results of weight-loss programs vary so much from individual to individual and are dependent on so many factors that determining their effectiveness is very difficult. It's even tougher to figure out how many people successfully maintain their weight loss after a few years, he said.
Consumer advocates disagree.
This is not rocket science. The guidelines urge providers of weight-loss services or products, including physicians, nutritionists and commercial centers, to give clients a detailed description of program contents, goals and staff qualifications. They should provide an estimate of total costs, including mandatory food purchases or medical tests required by the program. Industry leaders believe that following the guidelines will not amount to a significant change of practice for weight-loss companies, particularly since many of them already are under consent orders with the government that prevent them from making false claims about their products. By setting the standard, the coalition hopes smaller operations will follow suit.