Voluntary
disclosure guidelines designed to help consumers accurately evaluate
weight-loss programs and products have been released by the Partnership
for Healthy Weight Management. The partnership of diet companies,
consumer groups, scientific organizations, academia, and Federal
agencies, backed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), developed
these guidelines encouraging providers of weight-loss products
or services to give consumers information about staff credentials,
program costs, and health risks of the program. Americans spend
approximately $33 billion dollars a year on weight-loss products
and services.
“The
partnership has cut through the clutter in an effort to help consumers
achieve and maintain a healthy weight,” explained Jodie Bernstein,
director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, and a partnership
member.
The partnership
of 41 organizations and individuals grew from a public meeting
convened in October 1997 to discuss the information consumers
need to evaluate weight-loss products and programs. The FTC, the
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the
American Society for Clinical Nutrition cosponsored the public
meeting.
According
to Lynn McAfee, medical advocate for the Council on Size & Weight
Discrimination, Inc., “What's important about this agreement
is that diet companies are beginning to show that they're willing
to address consumer weight-loss expectations and move toward a
system that helps consumers evaluate programs based on solid criteria.”
Nearly 97
million American adults, or 55 percent of the population, are
overweight or obese. These individuals are at increased risk of
developing heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol,
diabetes, and certain cancers. The total costs attributable to
obesity-related disease in the United States approach $100 billion
annually.
"Individuals
have different needs from weight-management programs, and these
guidelines should serve as a basis for consumers to select sustainable
approaches to weight loss and weight control," said Van S.
Hubbard, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Institutes of Health
Division of Nutrition Research Coordination within NIDDK.
In addition
to the guidelines, the partnership released its mission statement.
An FTC consumer brochure, Setting Goals for Weight Loss,
and a video public service announcement (PSA) prepared by Knoll
Pharmaceutical Company, a partnership member, were also made available
with the guidelines. Both the brochure and the PSA recommend moderate
weight loss and maintenance to reduce the health risks linked
to overweight and obesity.
Copies of
the guidelines, brochure, and PSA are available on the Web at
http://www.consumer.gov/weightloss
or by calling 202-FTC-HELP (202-382-4357). The brochure is also
available from WIN.
