You know what I hate at any time of the year but especially now? Weight loss commercials!
But something I’ve just recently noticed and which made me stop and say, “Hmmm…” is almost all of them have a “Results not typical” disclaimer.
Take Nutrisystem for example. The success story people are all enthusiastic about their 40, 50, or more weight loss breakthroughs, but the fine print under all their stories is “Results not typical.”
Taco Bell unleashed it’s new Fresco campaign with Christine Dougherty, the next Jared Fogle in the making. She claims she lost 54 pounds in two years eating Taco Bell’s “Fresco” fare.
But guess what’s written all over these Taco Bell commercials advertising this news? Yep. “Results not typical.”
Slim Fast and Weight Watchers are among the bigger weight loss companies who also both have similar disclaimers.
Sneaky. So what are their typical results? I mean, they throw out those amazing success stories as bait to lure in those who want the same results. Who buy from those companies expecting the same results, but then feel like failures when they don’t reach them. All because nowhere was it made crystal clear that those amazing results are not typical, but there are results you can expect to obtain. Of course, they’re nowhere near as exciting as the atypical ones.
Apparently I’m slow on the uptake because savvy consumer groups have been crying “Foul!” to the FTC about such disclaimers for years. (Not just for weight loss products, but for any company using testimonials with uncommonly good results to sell their product.)
The FTC listened. New guides were created, which went into effect December 1, 2009. Now companies are supposed to include with any “Results not typical” disclaimer what kind of results a consumer can truly expect.
I’m going to look more closely, but I haven’t seen such statements on any of the weight loss commercials I’ve seen lately.
Unless they’re written in even smaller small print than the “Results not typical” disclaimers.
Sources: “Results Not Typical” Disclaimer Bites the Dust
