FOR RELEASE: November 27, 1991
FTC CHARGES MARKETER OF "CPM" TABLES WITH
MAKING UNSUBSTANTIATED WEIGHT-LOSS CLAIMS;
CONSENT AGREEMENT WOULD SETTLE CHARGES
The Federal Trade Commission has charged Slender You, Inc.
with making false and unsubstantiated weight-loss claims for the
continuous passive motion ("CPM") exercise tables it manufactures
and sells to health and fitness centers. Under a consent
agreement issued today for public comment to settle these
charges, the company would be prohibited from making such claims
in the future.
Slender You sells its CPM tables contending that they offer
users weight-loss and physical fitness benefits without the
effort and pain associated with traditional forms of exercise.
The tables generally come in sets of five to seven, with each
table designed to exercise a different group of muscles, as in
isometrics -- pushing, pulling and stretching muscles with or
without user resistance.
The FTC complaint alleges that Slender You has falsely
claimed that consumers who exercise on CPM tables can lose
weight, lose inches, remove cellulite, tone and firm muscles, and
achieve physical fitness benefits comparable or superior to those
provided by rigorous exercise. The complaint also alleges that
the company has not had a reasonable basis for making these
claims. Finally, the FTC complaint alleges that the company's
advertising used testimonials or endorsements to falsely
represent that inch-loss or weight-loss experienced by consumers
using the Slender You CPM products was typical or ordinary.
- more -
Slender You--11/27/91)
Under the proposed consent agreement settling these charges,
Slender You would be prohibited from making misrepresentations in
the advertising, labeling, packaging, sale or distribution of its
CPM tables to consumers, and from misrepresenting the benefits of
any diet or fitness programs it offers. Specifically, the order
would prohibit Slender You from misrepresenting that any such
machine or program:
- reduces or helps to reduce overall body fat or fat in
any particular area of the body;
- results in, or contributes to, inch-loss or weight-loss
or the reduction of the body;
- tones or firms human tissue, including muscle;
- removes or eliminates cellulite or any other form of
subcutaneous body fat;
- flushes out or contributes to the removal of fat
including acid waste, toxic waste or any other bodily waste; or
- provides health or physical fitness benefits similar or
superior to those provided by rigorous exercise for normal,
healthy individuals.
The agreement also would prohibit Slender You from
representing that a consumer endorsement or testimonial
represents the typical or ordinary experience of those who use
the exercise programs or CPM machines, unless that is the case.
Slender You, Inc. is based in Crossville, Tennessee.
The consent agreement is scheduled to appear in the Federal
Register shortly, and will be subject to public comment for 60
days, after which the Commission will decide whether to make it
final.
Comments should be addressed to the Office of the Secretary,
Federal Trade Commission, 6th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.,
Washngton, D.C. 20580.
NOTE: A consent agreement is for settlement purposes only and
does not constitute an admission of a law violation. When the
Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries
the force of law with respect to future actions of the
respondents. Each violation of such an order may result in a
civil penalty of $10,000.
(Slender You--11/27/91)
Copies of the complaint, consent agreement and an analysis
to assist the public in commenting are available from the FTC's
Public Reference Branch, same address as above; 202-326-2222;
TTY 1-866-653-4261.
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT: Brenda A. Mack, Office of Public Affairs,
202-326-2182
STAFF CONTACT: Theresa M. McGrew and Thomas S. Jefferson,
Chicago Regional Office,
55 East Monroe St., Suite 1437,
Chicago, IL 60603
(FTC File No. 882-3134)
(SLENDER-YOU)