Weight-Loss Companies Charged With Fraud
Replies
-
You guys are just jealous haters. I use almond cream and my thighs have never been sexier.
It puts the lotion on the skin.... (Silence of the Lambs)0 -
The problem with this, and indeed with most suits against businesses, is that it's always a financial settlement. Companies just see this as a cost of doing business. If you can still make a profit after all the potential fines, then you are still ahead. Board members, CEOs and executive committees need to start going to jail.
Ultimately, the companies have to restructure their marketing strategies because subsequent violations of this law, and the FTC could shut the company down completely. It's not just a fine. It's some serious heat.0 -
I don't see Body By Vi, Herbalife, or Shakeology getting sued, simply because they are low-calories, which helps create a calorie deficit, which causes weight loss. That's the only reason. They and their primary methods of operation are a crock of crap (MLMs for the win haha), BUT I don't know that they'll get hit, unfortunately
They still make bogus claims about the shakes causing weight loss, when in reality it is the calorie deficit. Doesn't that count as fraud? They also claim high quality ingredients, which their vitamins are not.
It all depends on how they word their marketing. If they claim, "this product will do X", then they have to have scientific evidence to support it. If they claim, "this product might do X", then they don't have to back it up.0 -
the blind leading the blind, then the blind suing the blind...0
-
I don't see Body By Vi, Herbalife, or Shakeology getting sued, simply because they are low-calories, which helps create a calorie deficit, which causes weight loss. That's the only reason. They and their primary methods of operation are a crock of crap (MLMs for the win haha), BUT I don't know that they'll get hit, unfortunately
They still make bogus claims about the shakes causing weight loss, when in reality it is the calorie deficit. Doesn't that count as fraud? They also claim high quality ingredients, which their vitamins are not.
It all depends on how they word their marketing. If they claim, "this product will do X", then they have to have scientific evidence to support it. If they claim, "this product might do X", then they don't have to back it up.
That's actually something I encourage people to look for when reading articles. A recent article I read about removing a certain food from our diets used a lot of "may" or "might" and "could" sandwiched between a statistic and a horrible side effect. It was well written to make people think that the food they were talking about is going to cause you serious harm or death.0 -
I don't see Body By Vi, Herbalife, or Shakeology getting sued, simply because they are low-calories, which helps create a calorie deficit, which causes weight loss. That's the only reason. They and their primary methods of operation are a crock of crap (MLMs for the win haha), BUT I don't know that they'll get hit, unfortunately
They still make bogus claims about the shakes causing weight loss, when in reality it is the calorie deficit. Doesn't that count as fraud? They also claim high quality ingredients, which their vitamins are not.
It all depends on how they word their marketing. If they claim, "this product will do X", then they have to have scientific evidence to support it. If they claim, "this product might do X", then they don't have to back it up.
That's actually something I encourage people to look for when reading articles. A recent article I read about removing a certain food from our diets used a lot of "may" or "might" and "could" sandwiched between a statistic and a horrible side effect. It was well written to make people think that the food they were talking about is going to cause you serious harm or death.
Yeah, the law is not designed to keep companies from making money, but to keep consumers from being completely lied to.0 -
This plays right into the American "there is a pill that will fix me" mentality that so many people have.0
-
This plays right into the American "there is a pill that will fix me" mentality that so many people have.
That mentality dates back a century or more. Remember "snake oil."0 -
Which begs the question: How did the fool get his money in the first place?0 -
Which begs the question: How did the fool get his money in the first place?
50 points from Gryffindor for misusing the phrase "beg the question"!
But to answer your question, in my experience fools get their money by working for the government.0 -
The problem with this, and indeed with most suits against businesses, is that it's always a financial settlement. Companies just see this as a cost of doing business. If you can still make a profit after all the potential fines, then you are still ahead. Board members, CEOs and executive committees need to start going to jail.
But they don't, because these are corporations. The law protects the individuals if they are part of the corporation.0 -
The problem with this, and indeed with most suits against businesses, is that it's always a financial settlement. Companies just see this as a cost of doing business. If you can still make a profit after all the potential fines, then you are still ahead. Board members, CEOs and executive committees need to start going to jail.
But they don't, because these are corporations. The law protects the individuals if they are part of the corporation.
And therein lies the problems. Corporations are abstract concepts, even if they are treated as people for legal purposes. They do not feel morality, guilt or shame, they do not know wrong or right, and they cannot be punished. They exist and operate solely for the generation of revenue - publicly owned corporations are indeed legally obligated to return maximum shareholder value. The only people who can be punished are those running the business. All the time they can see punitive fines as simply a cost of doing business, with no real personal repercussions, they will continue to behave badly.0 -
The problem with this, and indeed with most suits against businesses, is that it's always a financial settlement. Companies just see this as a cost of doing business. If you can still make a profit after all the potential fines, then you are still ahead. Board members, CEOs and executive committees need to start going to jail.
But they don't, because these are corporations. The law protects the individuals if they are part of the corporation.
And therein lies the problems. Corporations are abstract concepts, even if they are treated as people for legal purposes. They do not feel morality, guilt or shame, they do not know wrong or right, and they cannot be punished. They exist and operate solely for the generation of revenue - publicly owned corporations are indeed legally obligated to return maximum shareholder value. The only people who can be punished are those running the business. All the time they can see punitive fines as simply a cost of doing business, with no real personal repercussions, they will continue to behave badly.
I absolutely agree with you.0 -
50 points from Gryffindor for misusing the phrase "beg the question"!
But to answer your question, in my experience fools get their money by working for the government.
Damn, I've been schooled. Get off my d&%n lawn Johnnythan!0 -
I kinda hate that L’Occitane had a shady product in the mix because I love some of their products, the almond oil is pure heaven, unfortunately it's priced like it's made of pure gold. But they shouldn't have made absurd claims marketing the product.
I remember laughing so hard when the commercials for sensa made their debut. I was like, really?? :noway:0 -
Nice to know that fraud is still illegal, and the FTC is doing some work.
About time.0 -
I'm surprised L'occitane is in there. I didn't know they had weight loss programs. In their stores they sell candles, air fresheners, and perfumes and stuff.0
-
It all depends on how they word their marketing. If they claim, "this product will do X", then they have to have scientific evidence to support it. If they claim, "this product might do X", then they don't have to back it up.
There's always a tiny disclaimer on the bottom of their ads that most people don't read, when you're watching actors who claim to have lost 5,435 pounds.. "results not typical".0 -
*Shock and awe!*0
-
Lol, reminds me of the pills my mother once got me back in the day.. I put on weight faster with them! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:0
-
Which begs the question: How did the fool get his money in the first place?
50 points from Gryffindor for misusing the phrase "beg the question"!
But to answer your question, in my experience fools get their money by working for the government.
:flowerforyou: 0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions