Abs belt marketers target consumers' desire for a device that will cause weight loss with no physical effort or food sacrifice. In 2002, the Federal Trade Commission went after three abs belt products for fraudulent claims. In 2009, marketers of an electronic stimulation abdominal belt agreed to pay $7 million to consumers due to false and deceptive claims that the the device would cause weight loss, the FTC reports.
Misconceptions
The premise behind abs belts, also called electronic muscle stimulation devices, or abdominal belts, is that electronic muscle stimulation trims and tones the belly and substitutes for physical exercise. The tantalizing promise of achieving weight loss, abdominal muscle tone, six-pack abs and firm, trim waist while sitting on your couch or going about your daily activities wearing an abs belt misleads consumers. Contrary to the myth, wearing an abs belt isn't a substitute for burning calories through physical activity, according to the FTC..
Features
Some abdominal belts are marketed for men with promises of a washboard stomach and muscular mid-section. Other abs belts target women with promises of toning the waist and tummy and creating a sleek, toned torso. The belts, offered by various marketerss under a number of names, consist of a wide, adjustable-size belt with electrical stimulation contacts points that are supposed to give your abdominal muscles a full workout with no effort on your part.
The Facts
Wearing an abs belt won't get rid of belly fat or cause you to lose weight, the FTC has concluded. As enticing as weight-loss without calorie reduction or physical activity sounds, these abs belt don't burn calories or give you a chiseled midsection. Weight loss requires burning off more calories than you consume, and toning muscles requires exercise. The abdominal area responds well to exercise, allowing you to reduce belly bulge and trim your midsection through physical activity, MayoClinic.com advises.
Warnings
People with Pacemakers or any other metallic or medical implants should not use an abs belt because of the electronic stimulation. The FTC advises consumers to ignore claims that a device can "provide long-lasting, easy, 'no-sweat' results in a short period of time." There's no truth in claims that a device can burn fat off a specific part of your body.
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