FTC Approves Final Orders Banning Marketer Behind ‘Fat Burner’ Diet Pills From Making or Selling Weight-Loss Products

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved two final orders settling charges that the former CEO and co-founder of an Atlanta-based marketing operation and his company deceived consumers with promises that their Healthe Trim supplements would burn fat, increase metabolism, and suppress appetite.

According to the FTC’s complaint, announced last month, John Matthew Dwyer III and HealthyLife Sciences, LLC made false and unsubstantiated claims that Healthe Trim supplements would cause rapid and substantial weight loss. Advertisements for Healthe Trim, which used the tagline “Get High School Skinny,” relied heavily on consumer testimonials that portrayed losing weight as easy.

In settling the FTC’s charges, Dwyer has agreed to be banned from the weight-loss industry, and is prohibited from manufacturing or marketing weight-loss products. HealthyLife Sciences is banned from making any of the seven weight-loss claims that the FTC has publicly advised are scientifically infeasible, with respect to any supplement, over-the-counter drug, or any product rubbed into or worn on the skin. The settlement with HealthyLife Sciences also requires that the company have two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trials to support other claims relating to weight loss, increased metabolism, or appetite suppression.

The Commission vote approving the final consent orders was 5-0. (FTC File No. 122-3287; the staff contact is Elizabeth Nach, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2611)

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