Promoters of weight-loss patches say the adhesive strips encourage weight loss naturally without the need to count calories or exercise. Advertisements promise that the diet patches will help control your appetite until your body adjusts to eating less and stored fat begins to melt away. However, critics such as the Federal Trade Commission take issue with what it describes as bogus and false advertising.
Claims
Weight-loss patches are affixed to the arm, leg or other area of the body that will absorb the contents for 24 hours. According to Ultimatefatburner.com, patches typically contain varying amounts of certain ingredients. Guarana is suggested to have mild fat-burning and diuretic properties; Chromium is said to balance blood sugar levels, which in turn may reduce snacking; Garcinia cambogia is touted for its ability to block the conversion of carbohydrates into fat; Bladderwrack and hoodia supposedly help burn fat. Some patch promoters claim that you can lose two to four pounds per week.
Criticism
Critics of weight-loss patches say that absolutely no medical evidence exists to support the notion that skin patches for weight loss or fat reduction work. It's best to avoid the patch and save your money, according to the website AnneCollins.com. A 30-day supply of weight-loss patches sold for approximately $30 in April 2011.
Complaints
In a 2004 lawsuit, the Federal Trade Commission declared that skin patches do not result in weight loss. The FTC filed suit against the patch manufacturer, Transdermal Products International Marketing Corp., and the retailer, SG Institute of Health & Education, Inc., charging that the companies' claims that the skin patches led to substantial weight loss were bogus. In 2007 the company and its owner agreed to pay $180,000 to settle the FTC charges that advertising claims for their weight-loss patches were false and unsubstantiated.
Considerations
The Aroma Patch is a scent-based weight-loss product that manufacturers say will curb your appetite. The jury is still out on whether such products can actually help you lose weight, the Mayo Clinic reports. Even the makers of such products say weight loss depends on changes in diet and exercise.
References
- Ultimate Fat Burner.com: Review: Diet Patches For Men And Woman: A Scam?
- Federal Trade Commission: Weight-Loss Patch Manufacturer Banned From Selling Weight-Loss Patches, Will Pay $180,000
- AnneCollins.com : Weight Loss Patches-Review
- Mayo Clinic: Weight Loss
- Federal Trade Commission: FTC: Skin Patches Do Not Cause Weight Loss
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