Slimming patch net advert banned
Updated on 30 July 2008
An advert claiming dieters could lose a stone in just two weeks by attaching a slimming patch to their bodies has been banned by the advertising watchdog.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the internet advert for the Pink Patch was "irresponsible" and promoted "bad medical practice."
The advert by CYC Marketing showed text stating "Want to lose the tummy?" this was replaced by further text reading "Drop a stone in 2 weeks! Get a FREE Pink Patch Sample CLICK HERE ThePinkPatch.co.uk".
The company behind the Pink Patch claims the device works by releasing herbal ingredients into the body which promote weight loss.
But the ASA said they had seen no evidence that the ingredients when combined together in the patch resulted in any weight loss. They said that advocating weight loss at a rate of one stone in two weeks was "contrary to good medical and nutritional practice".
Also the ASA found some of the studies for the patch were carried out on animals, not humans, which is contrary to the ASA code.
The code states "claims for weight loss products should be backed by rigorous trials on people."
The ASA assessment read: "The evidence did not persuade us that wearing the Pink Patch would result in a loss of body fat and we concluded that the claim "Drop a stone in 2 Weeks" was unsubstantiated and could mislead."
The advert has now been banned in its current form by the ASA. Olivia Campbell, spokeswoman for the ASA, said: "The ad was irresponsible for promoting bad medical practice of losing a stone in two weeks and failed to provide persuasive scientific evidence to substantiate its claims."
Nobody from CYC Marketing was available for comment the judgment.
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