Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15106
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: news
More weight loss worries
Pharmacy Daily (Australia) - registration required 2009 Feb 23
http://www.pharmacydaily.com.au
Full text:
PHARMACY weight loss systems are once again drawing attention, with the Weight Management Council Australia (WMCA) backing the recent CHOICE survey of the programs (PD 04 Feb) which raised concerns about the weight loss advice and support being provided to pharmacy customers.
“We are very concerned that consumers may be provided with unproven weight loss solutions, and incomplete advice that may not address the problem in a holistic and appropriately tailored manager,” said WMCA chairman Professor Gary Wittert.
He said the CHOICE report had found that “some diet plans sold in pharmacy, including shakes and
meal replacements, fail to deal effectively with the complex issues surrounding weight loss.
“A related and equally problematic issue is the promotion and sale of ‘medications’ for weight loss that are not required to be subjected to evaluation by the TGA,” Wittert added.
The WMCA administers a code of practice for its members, which include Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Fernwood, Trim-a-Weigh and Nestle Healthcare Nutrition.
Wittert said the code covers “all the minimum standards called for by CHOICE, but which the shakes
and meal replacements covered inthe CHOICE report, do not meet.”
He said the WMCA supported calls for regulation of the sector, but urged that “in the meantime
consumers should look for the WMCA accreditation symbol orcheck if an organisation is accredited before joining any weight loss plan.”
The Pharmacy Guild said criticism of pharmacy in the CHOICE report was unwarranted (PD 05 Feb) with president Kos Sclavos saying that community pharmacies “continue to be an ethical and accessible location for weight loss advice and programs.”
