Commercial Weight
Loss Products and Programs
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A. An Overview of the Problem Over the next day-and-a-half, we will address one of the most tragic, costly, and preventable public health problems facing this country today -- an epidemic of obesity that drains our economy of billions of dollars annually in direct medical expenses, disability, and lost productivity, and . . . together with a sedentary life style contributes to over three hundred thousand excess deaths each year. Next to smoking, obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Welcoming remarks of George L. Blackburn, M.D., President, American Society for Clinical Nutrition. Statistics that reveal the extent of overweight/obesity in the United States are a sobering reminder of the dark side of prosperity and the industrial and technological advances of the twentieth century. According to survey data accumulated by the CDC through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the adult population has continued to increase, from approximately 25 percent of the U.S. adult population by the late Seventies (1976-80) to a startling 33 percent by 1991.(2) According to the latest NHANES data, overweight/obesity prevalence has continued to increase from 1988 to 1994 by 3.3 percentage points for men and 3.6 percentage points for women from 1988-1994. Similar trends are indicated for children and adolescents. Latest NHANES figures show overweight/obesity levels of approximately 11 percent for both children and adolescents. Overweight/obesity prevalence increases annually by nearly one percent. Twenty-five percent of men and close to forty percent of women are currently trying to lose weight. The prevalence of overweight/obesity is of great concern because it has been associated with the increased risk of several chronic and life-threatening diseases including type II diabetes,(3) coronary artery disease, hypertension, and certain types of cancer. The importance of controlling overweight/obesity and promoting safe and effective weight loss treatments is heightened by the existence of clinical studies demonstrating that even modest amounts of weight loss (5-10 percent of body weight) can result in significant improvement of these co- morbidity factors (i.e., diseases associated with obesity). As it is, health problems related to overweight/obesity account for $70 billion annually in health costs. Consumers spend an additional $33 billion per year(4) trying to lose weight or to prevent weight gain. Thus, the basis for the oft-quoted figure that the cost of overweight/obesity is $100 billion annually. B. Paradox: Many Consumers, Experienced in Making Weight Loss Choices, Continue to Make Bad Ones.People who have unrealistic notions about how much weight they can lose or can keep off over time can face devastating blows to self-esteem when they experience repeated failures. When they start out with unrealistic expectations, they may then choose methods that are either unproven or over-hyped. Remarks of Dean Graybill, Associate Director, Division of Service Industry Practices, Federal Trade Commission In spite of the best efforts of the medical and academic community, the state and federal government, the public interest sector, and many providers of weight loss products and services, too many consumers continue to make choices that promise miracles that are not achievable and, in many instances, threaten the health of the users. The size of the market for fraudulent weight loss products and services, an estimated five billion dollars annually, supports this conclusion. This occurs among a group of consumers who, on average, have attempted to lose weight two to three different times using different methods. Some providers of weight loss products and services argue that dieters are very sophisticated consumers, and, through the experience of several attempts at weight loss, know what works for them and what does not. Why then do so many consumers continue to make bad choices among available treatment options? As Dr. Blackburn observed in his opening remarks: In the ideal world of free enterprise economy, consumers have access to everything there is to know about every given subject and always make decisions in their own best interests. But in the real world, fear and hype are most likely to generate sales that damn the full disclosure of scientific data. The working hypothesis of the conference was that better-educated consumers with access to better information about the options available to them can improve their chances for success and help reduce the prevalence of overweight/obesity. The more consumers understand about what is reasonably attainable and the consequential benefits, the less likely they will be to opt for the next pill or gimmick that promises easy weight loss without dieting or exercise. As the majority of conference participants concluded, accomplishing these outcomes depends upon a cooperative effort to explore how information consumers need can be enhanced and how the message about the need for, and benefits of, weight reduction can be improved. Paunch Lines: Weight Loss Claims Are No Joke For DietersAre you one of the estimated 50 million Americans who will go on a diet this year? If so, you may be tempted by advertisements for products promising easy, quick ways to lose weight. You should know that when it comes to losing weight, gimmicks usually don’t deliver on their promises. While some dieters succeed in taking off weight, perhaps as few as five percent manage to keep it off in the long run. Most experts agree that the best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and burn more energy by increasing physical activity. Experts suggest aiming for a goal loss of about a pound a week. This usually means cutting about 500 calories a day from your diet, eating healthy, low-fat foods, finding a regular exercise activity you enjoy, and sticking to it. When it comes to evaluating claims for weight loss products, the Federal Trade Commission recommends a healthy portion of skepticism. Before you spend money on products or programs that promise fast or easy weight loss, weigh the claims and consider these tips:
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