Consumer: My New Year’s resolution is to lose weight. What should I keep in mind when evaluating diet and fitness programs?
Attorney General Rob McKenna: Becoming fit, losing weight, and eating right are popular New Year’s resolutions. But before you enroll in a health club or weight loss program, you should know your rights as a consumer.
Weight loss programs and health clubs have ethical and legal obligations to clearly disclose all details about program costs and guarantees before customers decide to sign a contract. They should also clearly explain how the program works and what is expected so that consumers can make an informed choice whether to join.
Choosing a diet program
Wouldn’t it be great if we could drop pounds by taking a pill or rubbing in a cream? Promoters want you to believe they’ve invented the next miracle product. But don’t buy the hype. Consumers spend billions of dollars each year on weight loss products and services, many of which don’t live up to promised results.
Programs are supposed to limit claims about any weight loss supplements or other products they sell to only those that are substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence. The Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Trade Commission have both brought lawsuits against businesses that make deceptive weight loss offers.
When selecting a weight loss program:
- Ask questions about the program costs, fees and promises.
- Inquire about staff credentials.
- Ask how successful other people are who follow the program and how you can increase your likelihood of success.
- Read contract agreements thoroughly and don’t sign anything you do not understand.
- Listen for misrepresentations. Products that claim that you will lose weight without dieting or exercise are bogus. Be skeptical, too, of those that promise they can keep weight off permanently, “burn fat,” or “block the absorption” of fat, carbs or calories. Doctors and nutritional experts agree that the best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and increase your physical activity.
- Avoid products and programs that guarantee rapid weight loss. The faster you lose weight, the more likely you are to gain it back. Experts recommend a goal of about a pound a week.
- Make a decision based on the facts and not on emotional sales presentations.
Selecting a health club
Washington's health club law (RCW 19.142) covers most fitness facilities and offers consumers specific protections when purchasing a membership. When deciding whether to join a health club:
- Visit the club during the hours you expect to use the facility. Peak hours might reveal more people competing for equipment than anticipated.
- Ask for a free trial period to try out the equipment and/or programs.
- Talk to other club users about their opinions of the facility.
- Get all promises in writing. The health club must provide a written list of all its membership plans, including the description and price of each. Special offers and discount prices must be in writing. Note that clubs can’t sell “lifetime” memberships and dues cannot be raised more than once per year.
- Read your contract carefully before signing. The contract should include the business’ name and address, the date signed, a description of equipment/services, the length of the contract, the cost and whether those charges can increase, and information about your cancellation rights.
- Don’t feel pressured to sign a contract right away in order to secure a low rate. Many health clubs offer enrollment specials and discounts several times a year.
- You have three business days after signing a health club membership contract in which to cancel and receive a refund; the club must refund your money within 30 days. If your contract extends for more than a year, you can cancel at anytime by giving 30 days written notice. The club must give you a prorated refund of your initiation fee unless your contract specifies that the fee is nonrefundable.
These agencies provide additional tips on selecting a diet or fitness program:
Federal Trade Commission’s Diet and Fitness Web site:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/fitness/index.html
U.S. Food and Drug Administration – How to Lose and Manage Weight:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/obesity.html
Here’s to a happy 2007 and a healthier you!