Hydroxycut

Hydroxycut is a nutritional supplement marketed by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., designed to help consumers lose weight. It is sold at retailers such as GNC and Wal-Mart as well as through direct television marketing.

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Currently sold in the United States without ephedra, it is advertised as increasing metabolism and reducing hunger cravings. Like many nutraceuticals, its efficacy is questionable^[1].

Hydroxycut promotes itself as being created and endorsed by doctors. Television advertisements for Hydroxycut feature Jon Marshall D.O., a 2005 graduate of Midwestern University's osteopathic medical school, still in residency. Hydroxycut is also endorsed by Marvin Heuer, MD, FAAFP, Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Florida.

Controversy

On March 27, 2003 Missouri's Attorney General Jay Nixon filed a lawsuit in St. Louis against Hydroxycut's manufacturer MuscleTech Research and Development, Inc stating that claims Hydroxycut was "clinically proven" to be a "fat-burner" were false, specifically:^[2]

Nixon also alleged that the "before" and "after" photographs were misleading, and that one woman's "before" photo was deceptive because she was recently pregnant.^[3]

MuscleTech paid $100,000 to settle the case while denying any wrongdoing.^[4]

References