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NACAA
National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators
Twenty-third Annual Meeting
May 22, 1998

RESOLUTION

WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCT AND PROGRAM DISCLOSURES

WHEREAS, Americans spend billions of dollars on weight loss programs and products each year;

WHEREAS, a panel of the United States National Institutes of Health
concluded that some weight-loss programs and products may be harmful to one's health, including association with the onset of eating disorders, depression, and even death; and a preponderance of research demonstrates a 95% failure rate in producing permanent weight loss;

WHEREAS, consumer agencies continue to be aware of weight loss program and product problems through their receipt of complaints from the public;

WHEREAS, some states and municipalities have enacted laws requiring prior full disclosure of the bases of the claims made by diet companies, three-day cancellation rights for consumers entering into diet program contracts and full disclosures of program costs, conditions, and staff credentials;

WHEREAS, all consumers are entitled to protections concerning claims for weight loss, loss maintenance and contract cancellation rights;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators:

1. Authorizes the Executive Director, the Executive Board and the
Officers to transmit this resolution to any entity or individual
identified by its members who is empowered to draft or enact relevant laws, rules or regulations, or who enforces the same;
2. Support and recommend the promulgation of legislation mandating clear and conspicuous diet program and diet product disclosure laws and/or regulations that will provide consumers with verifiable scientific information about the success rate and efficacy of such programs and products, and further that diet programs disclose the credentials of relevant staff to customers and prospective customers;
3. Support and recommend the promulgation of legislation mandating that companies offering diet programs provide a three day recission right to consumers, modeled after the rights provided by the Federal Trade Commission's Home Solicitation Sales Act, and further disclose to consumers all costs, terms and conditions of the program in writing.


Signed: ______________________
Joseph K. Goldberg
NACAA President

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