SLIMQUICK: Weight loss quick fix
SLIMQUICK is a weight loss supplement created by the SLIMQUCK Laboratories. They pledge that of their eleven products women will have a better chance of losing weight. The products are geared toward helping women, specifically, lose pounds quickly and easily. Through pills that come in original caplets, all natural caplets, caffeine free caplets, caplets with hoodia, powdered drink supplements, or just an energy boost drink SLIMQUICK products are specifically designed to help women battle challenges that arise in weight loss. The website, www.myslimquick.com, offers a comprehensive program for their customers that include: a profile, daily food log, message boards and exercise recommendations. Their four part plan does encourage proper nutrition and exercise with the use of the SLIMQUICK supplement and motivation to “staying with it” to continue and sustain weight loss. The product is endorsed by Kim Kardashian and her family and the website also boasts many happy consumer testimonials that appear to be from their websites plan members. However the disclaimer includes the statement, Results not typical, as indicated. Consumers combining a reduced-calorie diet similar to the 1350 calorie plan suggested and taking SLIMQUICK Weight Loss products containing a key weight loss ingredient, may lose approximately 1 – 2 lbs per week. Pounds and inches lost will vary depending on the individual and their diet and exercise program.[i] Although losing weight may be a driving force for some women, using this diet pill may not have glamorous side effects. Some testimonials report that users may feel jittery and nauseous and side effects may include: dizziness, anxiety, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, and a range of other common side effects associated with excessive caffeine use.[ii]
Further investigation may indicate misinformation and harm to the consumer. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved this product. According the Better Business Bureau (BBB) SLIMQUCK Laboratories located in Buffalo, NY is not accredited through the BBB and has also received an F rating. The BBB does not have sufficient information to determine how long this business has been operating or sufficient background information on this business, and has processed two complaints about SLIMQUCK Laboratories in the past 36 months.
Moreover, the Brandi Law Firm located in San Francisco, California is currently conducting an investigation against SLIMQUICK for the possible link that the product may cause liver failure and other problems. The Brandi Law Firm states, no independent human trials support these claims and there is no other supporting evidence. It contains a significant amount of caffeine, uva ursi which is toxic in large does and Hydroquinone which has been linked to liver damage in animals.[iii] In February, 2007 a federal lawsuit was filed and sought class action status against the three Canadian companies, Inc., NxLabs Inc., and Wellnx Life Sciences, for false advertisement. The United States federal lawsuit was filed against these companies (the makers of SLIMQUICK). Paula Reed Ward, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , wrote, “Two of the women who gave testimonials in the products’ packaging — claiming to have lost more than 30 pounds in eight or nine weeks — were in relationships with company officials. One, Kerrie Lee Brown, was the wife of the marketing director. The other, Nadine Erin, was the girlfriend of the vice president of marketing.” In April, 2008 Chad Bray, of Dow Jones Newswires, discusses the a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan by the Unilever Supply Chain Inc. and Conopco Inc. (which hold exclusive licensee for the Slim-Fast trademark) have alleged the use of the SLIMQUICK and SLIMQUICK Laboratories names violates their Slim-Fast trademark.
Claims of false advertisement and personal injury have not prompted the SLIMQUICK Laboratories to use conclusive evidence to support their findings. The SLIMQUICK website currently states, “Our team works hard to stay on top of emerging science and research to investigate highly efficacious ingredients to incorporate into our products. We scrutinize and evaluate each ingredient to determine whether it will help deliver meaningful results.” Dr. Richard Besser, ABC News’ senior health and medical editor, suggests that vitamins and minerals are not needed if an individual is eating a proper diet daily. SLIMQUICK does recommend a nutritional diet that includes the recommended vitamins and minerals. Thus this (or any) supplement is not necessary for people who have a well balanced diet and are not in a particular risk group, (Fortuna & Clark, 2009).
SLIMQUICK Laboratories should test this product to get approval from the FDA before using false advertising to seduce women into using this product. A suggested scientific experiment to test this drug would be double-blind randomized clinical trial (RCT). This experiment should have parallel random sampling, where participants are randomly assigned to experimental group and the control group. The experimental group would receive SLIMQUICK while the control group would receive a placebo. A medical pre and post test (which should include blood work, especially emphasizing liver effects) should be given, as well as longitudinal follow up tests.
Evidence supported by medical research and findings indicate that well-balanced nutrition is the optimal source for needed vitamins and minerals and supplements are neither necessary nor recommended. Currently there is no conclusive evidence that suggests that SLIMQUICK or its trademarked ingredients are beneficial to weight loss. Findings implicate SLIMQUICK Laboratories as using false advertising and poor business practices.
[i] SLIMQUICK. (2010). Retrieved from <http://www.myslimquick.com/real-slimquick-stories>
[ii] Karimi, S. (2008). Slim quick for weight loss: does it work? Hubpages.com Retrieved from < http://hubpages.com/hub/Slim-Quick-for-Weight-Loss-Does-it-Work>
[iii] Brandi Law Firm. (2010). Slimquick. Brandilaw.com. Retrieved from <http://www.brandilaw.com/PracticeAreas/Slimquick.asp>
References
Better Business Bureau. (2010). BBB Business Review Reliability Report for SlimQuick Laboratories. BBB.org. Retrieved from < http://www.bbb.org/upstate-new-york/business-reviews/health-and-diet-products-retail/slimquick-laboratories-in-buffalo-ny-57105804/>
Brandi Law Firm. (2010). Slimquick. Brandilaw.com. Retrieved from <http://www.brandilaw.com/PracticeAreas/Slimquick.asp>
Bray, C. (2008). Unilever unit sues makers of Slim-Fast competitor over name. Dow Jones Newswire. Lloyds.com. Retrieved from <http://www.lloyds.com/CmsPhoenix/DowJonesArticle.aspx?id=388731>
Fortuna, R., and Clarke, S. (2009). Vitamins and you: Which ones should you take? ABCNews.com. Retrieved from < http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/dr-besser-vitamins-supplements-health/story?id=9285203>
Karimi, S. (2008). Slim quick for weight loss: Does it work? Hubpages.com Retrieved from http://hubpages.com/hub/Slim-Quick-for-Weight-Loss-Does-it-Work>
SLIMQUICK. (2010). Retrieved from <myslimquick.com>
Ward, P. (2007). Canadian weight-loss firms sued by two area women. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved from < http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07044/761680-114.stm>
