Edward Abramson, a California psychologist, reported to ABC news in 2007 that approximately 90 percent of females surveyed "expressed dissatisfaction with their bodies." Diet patches marketed to women as a system of weight loss are classified as a food supplement and do not come under agency drug regulations. Consumers are left to determine the validity of claims and evaluate company claims based on advertising.
Diet Patch Claims
The Pink Patch targets teen girls for sales, packaging the product with labeling including "Glamour Girl," and makes weight loss claims of 1 to 3 lbs. each week. Ezee Slimming patches claim a safe weight loss of up to 5 lbs. a month. Pink Patch advertises, "Cute little dress approved!" and claims the patch will "boost your confidence and self-esteem." The Pink Patch contains 5-HTP which the company claims is "...a natural mood enhancer and also helps curb your appetite." When marketing Fucus vesiculosus, a type of seaweed, the companies use claims that incorporate the term "may": the product "may reduce weight loss" and "may help distribute body weight."
Commercial Offerings
Diet patches designed for women include products sold in stores and exclusively online. The Ezee Slimming Patch is available both online and at retail outlets. The Pink Patch, marketed in pink to target women, is available only online. Be-Slim, another online product, is marketed using radio and television advertisements, but is sold only on the company's Internet site.
Ingredients
The common ingredient in all the patches is bladerwrack kelp, scientifically known as Fucus vesculosis, and many also include the amino acid 5-HTP. Menthol, mangosteen fruit, yerba mate and L-carnitine are also active ingredients in the most popular patches, including the Pink Patch, Ezee Slimming Patch and Be-Slim.
Expert Insight
ABC News cites a report by "Nutrition Business Journal" in 2006 that Americans spent nearly $22 billion on dietary supplements. Herbal products may be marketed to children under 12 without any restrictions. The patches are relatively inexpensive, easy to buy, and appear to be an easy method to lose weight. The federal government has shown little interest in regulating the patches. The FDA has banned only two herbal treatments, including the ephedra in 2003 and androstenedione in 2004, but only after several deaths related to use of the products.
Warnings
The Federal Trade Commission warns against the use of diet products designed for skin application. The agency states that claims of more than a 2-lb. weight loss each week are bogus.
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