Facts on Diet Pills and the FTC

Jan. 4, 2007 — -- ABC's "World News" reported today that the Federal Trade Commission had fined the marketers of four weight-loss pills $25 million for making false advertising claims about their products. The ABC News Medical Unit has collected some quick facts that you should know about the FTC's decision.

The fines go to the makers of Xenadrine EFX, CortiSlim, TrimSpa and Bayer's One A Day Weight Smart. According to the FTC, these manufacturers used deceptive claims, not backed by science, to advertise their products.

Some of the products marketed their claims through infomercials or celebrity endorsements. Anna Nicole Smith, for example, has endorsed TrimSpa. The FTC said that celebrity testimonials are no substitute for scientific proof.

Check out the FTC report here: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/01/weightloss.htm

Over-the-counter diet pills -- like Xenadrine EFX, CortiSlim, TrimSpa and Bayer's One A Day Weight Smart -- are not considered to be drugs or medications, so the pills aren't regulated by the FDA the way prescription medications are. Manufacturers don't need to prove that the pills are safe or effective. While these products aren't necessarily dangerous, they might be a waste of money. It's wise to approach any nonprescription diet aid with a skeptical eye.