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The Connecticut Better Business Bureau urges those seeking speedy weight loss to be careful, as many of these methods can be hazardous to ones health.
The Connecticut Better Business Bureau urges those seeking speedy weight loss to be careful, as many of these methods can be hazardous to ones health.
BBB: Look out for weight-loss scams
With 2017 already nearing the end of its first quarter, odds are that most New Years resolutions to lose weight have long been ditched. But there are likely those still looking to reduce, but who dont want to go about it the old-fashioned, labor intensive way.
However, the Connecticut Better Business Bureau urges those seeking speedy weight loss to be careful, as many of these methods can be hazardous to ones health.
Consumers who have had little or no success losing weight with the traditional approach often turn to alternative weight loss methods. They include prepared meal programs, protein bars, shakes, diet books and weight loss supplements. According to an estimate from Marketdata Enterprises, Americans spend a staggering $60 billion annually trying to lose weight.
Consumers dont have to look very hard to find an ad for a product that makes exaggerated claims about its effectiveness and typical weight loss results, said Connecticut Better Business Bureau spokesman Howard Schwartz in a news release. Ads for weight loss supplements may make unrealistic promises, and some ads are illustrated with faked before and after photos. Some sellers even set up fake news sites to peddle their products.
According to the Better Business Bureau, weight-loss supplements seldom live up to their inflated promises, and regulators say the industry is fraught with misinformation. In the last decade, the FDA has brought more than 80 actions against companies making deceptive weight loss claims.
The FDA is not charged with regulating the supplements,though some of the pills, capsules and powders have been pulled off the market because they were tied to problems such as increased risk of heart attack, stroke, hepatitis, jaundice, heart damage and lung disease.
Consumers can encounter different problems with health clubs and gyms, including difficulties canceling contracts, unauthorized billing and the sudden closure of an exercise facility.
Starting off National Consumer Protection Week, Better Business Bureau and Department of Consumer P offer these tips to avoid problems with weight loss businesses and supplements:
1. Check with a physician before taking any non-prescription weight loss supplement to determine whether it is potentially dangerous or may interfere with medicine for existing medical conditions.
2. Ask your doctor whether you are a candidate for a weight loss medical procedure or prescribed medication.
3. Be skeptical of products that promise miraculous results in a short time frame.
4. Consumers can verify that their health club is properly licensed by visiting elicense.ct.gov, and research a prospective facility at bbb.org, to see what other consumers have to say about their experience with the facility.
5. If a health club closes abruptly, consumers holding contracts may be eligible for relief from the Health Club Guaranty Fund.
Consumers with complaints regarding health clubs are urged to file a complaint with Better Business Bureau and contacting DCP by email at DCP.frauds@ct.gov, or calling 860-713-6100.
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BBB: Look out for weight-loss scams - CT Post
