Download SECTION 3: What Participating Providers Must Tell Consumers

What Participating
Providers Must Tell
Consumers
Required
Information
• Program
Components
• Staff Qualifications
• Risks
• Costs
• Advice on Weight
Maintenance
Program
Components
• What foods are eaten?
• How many calories?
• Are there physical
activity guidelines?
• Are there any drugs,
dietary supplements, or
devices used?
Voluntary Guidelines
Example Disclosure
"Community Hospital Obesity Clinic"
Program Components
• Medically supervised weight loss program for severe
disorders related to obesity or whose obesity places
them at risk
• Includes optional low or very low-calorie diet plans,
exercise, and lifestyle education
• Protein supplement diet formula used to substitute for
regular meals and a multi-vitamin supplement
• Program success rates
Staff
Qualifications
•
•
•
•
Training
Experience
Credentials
Type of
attention
• Frequency of
attention
Voluntary Guidelines
Example Disclosure: Staff Qualifications
•
•
•
•
•
One physician board-certified in endocrinology
Two registered nurses (RN)
Three registered dietitians (RD)
One masters level exercise physiologist
One clinical psychologist (Ph.D.)
*Patients visit with the dietitians and exercise physiologist. Other
professional staff are available for consultation if professional intervention
is indicated.
Risks
• Health risks of being
overweight or obese
• Improvements from
modest weight loss
Example of Risk
Disclosure
• Overweight or obese at increased risk for heart
disease, diabetes, some forms of cancer, gall
bladder disease, osteoarthritis and sleep apnea
• Health risks may be reduced by losing just 5 to
10 percent of your body weight, which is 10 to
20 pounds for a 200-pound person
Risks
•
•
•
•
Drugs
Devices
Dietary supplements
Exercise plans
Risks
•
•
•
•
Medical conditions/medications
Rapid weight loss
Very low calorie diets
Physical changes
Costs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Membership fees
Periodic attendance fees
Food
Meal replacements
Dietary supplements
Discretionary costs (i.e., medical tests)
Optional costs (i.e., maintenance
program, re-entry fees)
Cost Example:
"BYE-BYE BMI Weight Loss Centers"
Mandatory charges:
•
•
•
•
One-Time Entry Fee
Weekly Meeting Attendance
Average (approximate) cost of food per week
Nutritional Supplements (30 day supply)
• Discretionary additional charges
• Blood tests, Physician Exam, EKG
• Optional additional charges (if client chooses)
ALL COSTS NON-REFUNDABLE
Success Rates
• Percentage completing program
• Amount of weight lost
• Amount of weight loss
maintained
Text from
Web
site
Example
“Patients under Dr. Doe's weight loss
treatment lost, on average, 17.5 pounds,
and after 18 months, they kept off 55
percent of their weight loss. This
measurement includes all patients who
remained in active weight loss for at least
three weeks.”
Advice on Weight
Maintenance
Example
“Long-term weight maintenance can be
enhanced by frequent and regular physical
activity of at least moderate intensity and
eating according to the Dietary Guidelines
for Americans (reducing total calories, fat
consumption, and increasing vegetables,
fruits and whole grains).”
What if Providers Don’t
Give Full Disclosure?
Contact Federal Trade Commission
(FTC)
• 877-FTC-HELP
• www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint