What Participating Providers Must Tell

Consumers

• Program Components

• Staff Qualifications

• Risks

• Costs

• Advice on Weight Maintenance

Required Information

Program Components

• What foods are eaten?• How many calories?• Are there physical

activity guidelines?• Are there any drugs,

dietary supplements, or devices used?

Example Disclosure "Community Hospital Obesity Clinic"

Program Components• Medically supervised weight loss program for severe

disorders related to obesity or whose obesity places them at risk

• Includes optional low or very low-calorie diet plans, exercise, and lifestyle education

• Protein supplement diet formula used to substitute for regular meals and a multi-vitamin supplement

• Program success rates

Voluntary Guidelines

Staff Qualifications

• Training• Experience• Credentials• Type of

attention• Frequency of

attention

Voluntary Guidelines

Example Disclosure: Staff Qualifications• One physician board-certified in endocrinology• Two registered nurses (RN)• Three registered dietitians (RD)• One masters level exercise physiologist • One clinical psychologist (Ph.D.)

*Patients visit with the dietitians and exercise physiologist. Other professional staff are available for consultation if professional intervention

is indicated.

Risks

• Health risks of being overweight or obese

• Improvements from modest weight loss

Example of Risk Disclosure

• Overweight or obese at increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, some forms of cancer, gall bladder disease, osteoarthritis and sleep apnea

• Health risks may be reduced by losing just 5 to 10 percent of your body weight, which is 10 to 20 pounds for a 200-pound person

 

Risks

• Drugs

• Devices

• Dietary supplements

• Exercise plans

Risks

• Medical conditions/medications

• Rapid weight loss

• Very low calorie diets

• Physical changes

Costs

• Membership fees• Periodic attendance fees• Food• Meal replacements• Dietary supplements• Discretionary costs (i.e., medical tests)• Optional costs (i.e., maintenance

program, re-entry fees)

Mandatory charges:

• One-Time Entry Fee • Weekly Meeting Attendance• Average (approximate) cost of food per week

• Nutritional Supplements (30 day supply) • Discretionary additional charges

• Blood tests, Physician Exam, EKG

• Optional additional charges (if client chooses)

ALL COSTS NON-REFUNDABLE

Cost Example: "BYE-BYE BMI Weight Loss Centers"

Success Rates

• Percentage completing program

• Amount of weight lost

• Amount of weight loss maintained

Example

“Patients under Dr. Doe's weight loss treatment lost, on average, 17.5 pounds,

and after 18 months, they kept off 55 percent of their weight loss. This

measurement includes all patients who remained in active weight loss for at least

three weeks.”

Text from Web site

Advice on Weight Maintenance

Example

“Long-term weight maintenance can be enhanced by frequent and regular physical activity of at least moderate intensity and

eating according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (reducing total calories, fat consumption, and increasing vegetables,

fruits and whole grains).”

What if Providers Don’t Give Full Disclosure?

Contact Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

• 877-FTC-HELP

• www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint