CortiSlim and Other Diet Aids Settle with Federal Trade Commission On Claims of Deceptive Advertising
The marketers of four well-known diet supplements -- CortiSlim, TrimSpa, Xenadrine EFX, and One-A-Day WeightSmart – settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in claims of deceptive marketing. According to the FTC, complaints were filed against the marketers, alleging that the weight-loss and weight-control claims were not supported by reliable scientific evidence. One of the products, CortiSlim, has been the subject of heavy advertising campaigns, and has frequently been targeted to thyroid patients who want to lose weight. Back in 2004, I focused on this supplement's advertising claims, in an article here at the site titled, "Will CortiSlim Help You Lose Weight?" In that article, I reported that there was no evidence that CortiSlim could deliver on its claims.
Today's FTC announcement has validated this, stating: "The advertising campaign for CortiSlim ran nationwide, including ads on broadcast and cable television, radio, print media, and the Internet. The FTC’s complaint alleged that advertising claims about CortiSlim’s ability to cause rapid, substantial, and permanent weight loss in all users were false or unsubstantiated..."
While the four products will remain on the market, the makers are surrending cash and assets totalling $25 million. In addition, the marketers have agreed to limit future advertising claims. They will not be permitted to make claims regarding the health benefits, performance, efficacy, safety, or side effects of any weight-loss product, unless, as the FTC states "the representation is true, not misleading, and substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence."
Sources:
Federal Trade Commission Public Statement: Federal Trade Commission Reaches “New Year’s” Resolutions with Four Major Weight-Control Pill Marketers -- January 4, 2007
Mary Shomon, Thyroid.About.com website, 2004: "Will CortiSlim Help You Lose Weight?"
Photo: Istockphoto.com
Comments
Mary: You write about this topic as you research it out of your own experience. I want to share mine. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s in 2001. As I was having medical tests for other reasons, my docotr noted that I have current elevated ANA’s, indicative of an auto-immune disorder. I just recently was referred to a Rhuemetologist, who performed every blood test you can imagine, after 5 vials of blood were taken. Well, the good news is I do not have any form of arthritis. The bad news is I still itch for no reason, have very achey joints, and I was told my syptoms are not Thyroiditis related. Before I commit myself to an insane asylum, can you research this and get back to me? Say it IS related, because there’s no other auto-immune disorder that I have…help!
Regarding Debra Makowski’s comments about her “arthritic like” joints, I too experience this. When I was diagnosed in 1999 with Hashimoto’s it started with rapid weight loss and joint pain. I, too sought various test from the rheumatologist with no conclusive diagnosis for it. Therefor, I do suggest that it is infact related to the Hashimoto’s disease. As do other sufferers. Since Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease, it has the perpensity to effect various places in the body. Some will relieve on there own while newer issues may crop up. It’s a waxing a wanning of sorts. The first line of defense is always to treat the thyroid condition without fail. But there will be times when you must treat the secondary ailments as result of the disease. For my recurring joint pain I take one aleeve with one aspirin. This combination usually helps quite a bit. Also, don not go without proper sleep. This seems to effect the situation as well. I have been prescribed various arthritic medicine but they provided no relief. Probably since it isn’t actually a rheumatilogical issue. I hope this information is helpful to you.