The makers of the QuickTrim weight loss supplements endorsed by reality TV stars the Kardashians are making false, misleading and unsubstantiated claims about their efficacy, according to a class action lawsuit.

The action, filed in New York last Thursday by plaintiffs representing consumers of QuickTrim products in New York, Florida and California, alleges that QuickTrims caffeine pills are mixed with a variety of herbal ingredients that have never been clinically proven as effective treatments for weight loss or appetite suppression.

No competent and reliable scientific evidence

It adds: TheQuickTrim Weight Loss System is marketed by the defendants as a clinically proven formula that will increase metabolism, curb appetite and promote weight loss [But]there is no competent and reliable scientific evidence supporting any of these claims.

Defendants marketing and promotion of QuickTrim includes numerous unsubstantiated, false and misleading claims about the products efficacy and mechanism of action.

Caffeine and weight loss

It also notes that the FDA has determined that there are inadequate data to establish the general recognition of the safety and effectiveness of caffeine as a weight control ingredient.

However, food law experts pointed out to NutraIngredients-USA that this FDA determination was made in relation to 21 C.F.R. 310.545 (which covers active ingredients in OTC drugs not dietary supplements), suggesting that the plaintiffs had misinterpreted regulations pertaining to OTC drugs as applying to dietary supplements.

The defendants are retailers GNC, Walmart, CVS, Amazon.com and Drugstore.com;celebrities Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian-Odom; QuickTrim chief executive Christopher Tisi; QuickTrim LLC (which owns the IP rights to the weight loss system) and Windmill Health Products, which distributes the QuickTrim products.

The lawsuit, filed by the law firm of Bursor & Fisher, seeks damages and a jury trial.

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GNC, Walmart and the Kardashians targeted in QuickTrim lawsuit

Mila Kunis has always been petite, but after her weight loss for the movie Black Sawn shes been missing one thing her bum!

The 28-year-old actress put her body through intense weight loss for her role as a ballet dancer, losing an insane 20 pounds for the part. Now that shes is back to her pre-Black Swan weight, Mila has revealed that her body shape has changed entirely, and that shes not happy about loosing some of her favourite curves.

My shape is different, the stunning actress tells Harpers Bazaar. When I got down to 95 pounds, I was muscles, like a little brick house, but skin and bones. When I gained it back, it went to completely different areas. Id be happy if my ass got bigger. All the weight that left my chest went to my side hip, my stomach.

It certainly makes a nice change to hear a celebrity say that they want a bigger bottom.

As well as opening up about her changing body shape, Mila also admitted that while shes staying away from the Botox needle for now, she wouldnt rule out having a little surgical help when she gets older.

I will not put a needle in my body unless I have a medical reason. But ask me in ten years. Right now, Im like, Im going to embrace it, but Im probably going to want to have something done. I have no doubt.

In ten years we cant help but feel that Mila will look just as gorgeous as she does now being totally Botox-free.

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Mila Kunis says Black Swan weight loss changed her body

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Posted March 6, 2012

DURHAM, NC -- Wellspring at Structure House, a residential program for weight loss and lifestyle change, has announced the hiring of Thomas Britton, DrPH (ABD), MA, LPC, LCAS, CCS, ACS, as Executive Director. Britton's first day was February 21, 2012.

"We are very pleased to welcome Thomas to the Wellspring at Structure House team," said Candance Henderson-Grice, MS, President of the Weight Management and Eating Disorder Division for Wellspring at Structure House's parent company, CRC Health Group. "Thomas' extensive work experience will be of great benefit as he leads Wellspring at Structure House into a new era."

Britton's involvement in the behavioral health field spans more than 20 years. Most recently, he was Western Regional Director for a comprehensive provider of substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment for adults and adolescents in North Carolina. In this role, Britton managed the daily clinical and administrative operations for the multi-site facility, and was instrumental in the achievement of accreditation from the Commission of Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Prior to this, Britton served as the director of a 42-day residential substance abuse unit providing counseling services to adults and adolescents experiencing addiction and mental health issues. Britton also spent five years as a therapist, and has held positions as program director, teaching parent and peer educator. Throughout his professional career, he has held the belief that "all people hold the innate potential to improve their life and the lives of those around them."

As Executive Director, Britton will be responsible for the overall direction and management of Wellspring at Structure House, a comprehensive weight management program that has recently undergone a merging of two like-minded, world-renowned and scientifically-based weight loss solutions, Wellspring and Structure House. This new Wellspring at Structure House program approaches the mind, body and spirit by reinforcing cognitive therapeutic solutions to weight loss issues. Updated options include culinary experiences with professional chefs, more than 50 exercise classes, spa treatments and clinical therapies to help clients master the proven steps for living a healthy lifestyle with sustainable results that do not end when they return home. The program can be booked for a week at a time -- "weight-loss vacations" -- but program clinicians do suggest a minimum of a four-week stay for optimal results.

When asked what attracted him to Wellspring at Structure House, Britton remarked, "Wellspring at Structure House has a long history of teaching participants new skills and helping to identify what perpetuates the behaviors driving obesity. True change requires a deep exploration and resolution of old patterns of thinking and behavior. Insight, however, is not enough alone to create change. One needs to learn the skills and information necessary to act on the insights learned through therapeutic activities. I am excited to apply my experience as a leader and clinician to the ongoing evolution of clinical excellence at Structure House."

Britton is near completion of his PhD (awaiting board decision) in Public Health and Executive Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Public Health, and earned his MA in Community Counseling (double masters in Addictions and Marriage and Family Therapy) from Appalachian State University, and a BA in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Connecticut. He has taught extensive interdisciplinary training on a variety of topics through continuing education classes throughout the country, and maintains several licensures and certifications, including Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, Clinically Certified Supervisor (Addictions), and Approved Clinical Supervisor (Mental Health). Britton is a 2009 North Carolina Substance Abuse Delegate and received the 2009 Curtis Glenn Southard Award in Community Mental Health Scholarship. In 2008, he was chosen to take part in the Governor's Institute in Mental Health Leadership. Britton is a Board Member and Treasurer of the Mountain Counsel on Drug and Alcohol Dependence, and was one of its founders. He is an accomplished public speaker and author with several professional publications and presentations.

"As Executive Director of Wellspring at Structure House, I am most excited by our potential to expand our services to support more individuals struggling with weight management," said Britton. "I am excited to be a part of a new beginning at Structure House that capitalizes on the success of our past and the potential of our future. Very few individuals are provided with an opportunity to be a part of such an incredible program and I consider myself extremely fortunate."

About Wellspring at Structure House Wellspring at Structure House, an internationally recognized residential weight loss center in Durham, N.C., offers a unique, behavioral approach to weight loss and healthy lifestyle change. The program, recognized by Health magazine as "America's Healthiest Diet," integrates principles of nutrition and exercise with psychology in a treatment approach designed to transform the eating habits and lifestyles of overweight individuals. Since 1977, Structure House has helped more than 30,000 people from all 50 states and 35 nations battling obesity. The name Structure House underscores the critical role structure plays in achieving long-term weight loss.

Here is the original post:
Wellspring at Structure House Appoints Thomas Britton as Executive Director

DURHAM, NC--(Marketwire -03/06/12)- Wellspring at Structure House, a residential program for weight loss and lifestyle change, has announced the hiring of Thomas Britton, DrPH (ABD), MA, LPC, LCAS, CCS, ACS, as Executive Director. Britton's first day was February 21, 2012.

"We are very pleased to welcome Thomas to the Wellspring at Structure House team," said Candance Henderson-Grice, MS, President of the Weight Management and Eating Disorder Division for Wellspring at Structure House's parent company, CRC Health Group. "Thomas' extensive work experience will be of great benefit as he leads Wellspring at Structure House into a new era."

Britton's involvement in the behavioral health field spans more than 20 years. Most recently, he was Western Regional Director for a comprehensive provider of substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment for adults and adolescents in North Carolina. In this role, Britton managed the daily clinical and administrative operations for the multi-site facility, and was instrumental in the achievement of accreditation from the Commission of Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Prior to this, Britton served as the director of a 42-day residential substance abuse unit providing counseling services to adults and adolescents experiencing addiction and mental health issues. Britton also spent five years as a therapist, and has held positions as program director, teaching parent and peer educator. Throughout his professional career, he has held the belief that "all people hold the innate potential to improve their life and the lives of those around them."

As Executive Director, Britton will be responsible for the overall direction and management of Wellspring at Structure House, a comprehensive weight management program that has recently undergone a merging of two like-minded, world-renowned and scientifically-based weight loss solutions, Wellspring and Structure House. This new Wellspring at Structure House program approaches the mind, body and spirit by reinforcing cognitive therapeutic solutions to weight loss issues. Updated options include culinary experiences with professional chefs, more than 50 exercise classes, spa treatments and clinical therapies to help clients master the proven steps for living a healthy lifestyle with sustainable results that do not end when they return home. The program can be booked for a week at a time -- "weight-loss vacations" -- but program clinicians do suggest a minimum of a four-week stay for optimal results.

When asked what attracted him to Wellspring at Structure House, Britton remarked, "Wellspring at Structure House has a long history of teaching participants new skills and helping to identify what perpetuates the behaviors driving obesity. True change requires a deep exploration and resolution of old patterns of thinking and behavior. Insight, however, is not enough alone to create change. One needs to learn the skills and information necessary to act on the insights learned through therapeutic activities. I am excited to apply my experience as a leader and clinician to the ongoing evolution of clinical excellence at Structure House."

Britton is near completion of his PhD (awaiting board decision) in Public Health and Executive Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Public Health, and earned his MA in Community Counseling (double masters in Addictions and Marriage and Family Therapy) from Appalachian State University, and a BA in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Connecticut. He has taught extensive interdisciplinary training on a variety of topics through continuing education classes throughout the country, and maintains several licensures and certifications, including Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, Clinically Certified Supervisor (Addictions), and Approved Clinical Supervisor (Mental Health). Britton is a 2009 North Carolina Substance Abuse Delegate and received the 2009 Curtis Glenn Southard Award in Community Mental Health Scholarship. In 2008, he was chosen to take part in the Governor's Institute in Mental Health Leadership. Britton is a Board Member and Treasurer of the Mountain Counsel on Drug and Alcohol Dependence, and was one of its founders. He is an accomplished public speaker and author with several professional publications and presentations.

"As Executive Director of Wellspring at Structure House, I am most excited by our potential to expand our services to support more individuals struggling with weight management," said Britton. "I am excited to be a part of a new beginning at Structure House that capitalizes on the success of our past and the potential of our future. Very few individuals are provided with an opportunity to be a part of such an incredible program and I consider myself extremely fortunate."

About Wellspring at Structure HouseWellspring at Structure House, an internationally recognized residential weight loss center in Durham, N.C., offers a unique, behavioral approach to weight loss and healthy lifestyle change. The program, recognized by Health magazine as "America's Healthiest Diet," integrates principles of nutrition and exercise with psychology in a treatment approach designed to transform the eating habits and lifestyles of overweight individuals. Since 1977, Structure House has helped more than 30,000 people from all 50 states and 35 nations battling obesity. The name Structure House underscores the critical role structure plays in achieving long-term weight loss.

Gerard J. Musante, PhD, one of the nation's leading experts on obesity and weight loss, is the founder and director of Wellspring at Structure House. A renowned clinical psychologist, Dr. Musante was the first person to adapt the principles of behavior modification to the eating habits of significantly overweight people and food abusers. Dr. Musante is the author of The Structure House Weight Loss Plan. For more information, visit http://structurehouse.crchealth.com.

About CRC Health GroupWellspring at Structure House is a member of CRC Health Group, the most comprehensive network of specialized behavioral care services in the nation. CRC Health Group offers the largest array of personalized treatment options, allowing individuals, families, and professionals to choose the most appropriate treatment setting for their behavioral, addiction, weight management and therapeutic education needs. CRC is committed to making its services widely and easily available, while maintaining a passion for delivering advanced treatment. Since 1995, CRC programs have helped individuals and families reclaim and enrich their lives.

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Wellspring at Structure House Announces New Executive Director, Thomas Britton

More than 1,000 obese Manitobans are waiting to see if the provincial government will approve a weight-loss surgery program that could save their lives.

A total of 110 patients, all women, have undergone bariatric surgery as part of pilot program Manitoba Health has funded since late 2010.

But the program's future is uncertain, as the province is in the process of reviewing it.

Dr. Chris Andrew, who heads up the pilot program unit, said he believes that bariatric surgeries must become more accessible.

"In the private system, the bottom line is that a lot of people couldn't do that simply for financial reasons," he told CBC News.

"We're doing the surgery as a treatment for patients, not just to lose weight and look better, but to help with conditions associated with obesity like diabetes [and] hypertension."

Private clinics offered weight-loss procedures in the beginning, but the costs were out of reach for many people, he said.

The Manitoba Health pilot program offered two types of bariatric procedures:

Gastric bypass surgery, which reduces the size of one's stomach and changes how the stomach and small intestine handle food.

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy, in which the stomach alone is reduced in size.

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Manitoba weight-loss surgery program's future uncertain

Drops Despite Higher Revenues

The weight-loss company reported a fourth-quarter loss of $0.04 EPS, twice as bad as analysts had feared. Guidance was also weak despite revenue beating expectations. That's hitting NTRI hard, sending the stock down nearly 12 percent before the bell on my tradeMONSTER's extended-hours platform.

Monster Worldwide Hires Advisers

The online employment service announced that it has retained Stone Key Partners and Bank of America / Merrill Lynch as financial advisers in a review of strategic alternatives. It had previously announced the plan last Thursday. MWW is up about 7.5 percent in the pre-market as traders seem to approve of the initiative.

PAA Down on New Public Offering

Plains All American Pipeline is striking while the iron is hot, tapping the equity market for capital after a big run earlier this year. The oil and natural-gas distributor plans sell 5 million units and will use proceeds to fund the acquisition of BP Canada Energy and to pay down debt. PAA is down more than 3 percent this morning.

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NutriSystem plunges on loss, outlook

Something to chew on: most of the 1000-plus weight loss products on the market are scams, leading health experts warn. Source: Supplied

DODGY diet clinics are using aggressive tactics and bizarre advice to heavy customers into signing up, according to claims by consumer watchdog Choice.

Some operators in the ballooning $792 million industry seem so desperate to fatten profits they risk compromising people's health, according to medical experts.

Choice's team of three shopping sleuths each visited four Sydney sites and reported back on consultants from Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and two other companies to test the claims.

Have you been duped by a diet scam? Tell us below

General practitioner Sam Hay blasted one clinic, which sold a rapid fat-loss program and told a woman "not to bother with exercise" and used the term "obesity syndrome", as bordering on "irresponsible".

Another clinic gave advice that alarmed Dr Hay, and in one case may have misdiagnosed thyroid and adrenal problems.

A Weight Watchers Lifestyle centre's "hard sell" allegedly failed to check medication or medical problems and lacked exercise emphasis.

However, Jenny Craig fared well in addressing health concerns and clearly outlining costs.

"While our experts didn't agree with all the advice given by Jenny Craig, they were impressed by the clarity of information, the care taken to find out the person's medical history and the absence of aggressive sales tactics," Choice spokeswoman Ingrid Just said.

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Choice condemns expanding diet industry