Dr Phil Diet kept them fat... so they're suing

[cleochatra]

Lawyers Fatten Up on Dr. Phil Diet
by Gina Serpe
Oct 5, 2005, 12:35 PM PT

The man known for telling it like it is apparently didn't--at least according to a new lawsuit.

Three dieters who claim that Dr. Phil McGraw's discontinued Shape Up! diet plan was useless are suing the TV shrink for fraud and looking to expand their claim into a national class-action lawsuit.

The trio appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday morning to file the suit, alleging that Dr. Phil made false and misleading claims about the diet supplements' weight-loss prowess.

They are requesting full refunds and additional damages as well as seeking to open up the lawsuit to thousands of potential dieters.

Lawyers for both McGraw and CSA Nutraceuticals, the company behind the plan, have denied the false-advertising claims but refused to comment further.

A ruling on the class-action status is not expected until next year.

The controversial Shape Up! plan required followers to take 22 vitamins and supplements a day--based on whether a person had a "pear" or "apple" body type--at a price of $120 per month. Dieters could also choose from the plan's widely available shakes and bars.

The plaintiffs claim they lost plenty of money, but no weight.

Oprah's protégé first began endorsing the "Shape Up! with Phil McGraw" diet plan in mid-2003, making several high-profile TV appearances and writing a book touting the regime's surefire results.

However, in January 2004, the Center for Science in the Public Interest released a statement claiming none of the pills' ingredients had been shown to promote weight loss, and soon after CSA Nutraceuticals halted production on the product line due to an ongoing investigation into false-advertising claims by the Federal Trade Commission.

The investigation was dropped as a result.

The court news tops off an otherwise banner year for the Texas advice dispenser. His ratings-grabbing Dr. Phil show was recently renewed for another five years, ensuring viewers a daily dose of tough love through 2014.


http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/P...7,17514,00.html

[cleochatra]

And, YES, we're still reading the book.

We're ignoring the diet portion!

[MotherOfGizmo]

LOL, anybody surprised about this?

[AllieCat0817]

It don't matter what anyone thinks of Dr. Phil (I like him myself)....bottom line is folk have GOT to accept 100% full accountability and responsibility and ownership of their own freakin weight loss. If you didn't lose weight on the plan then guess what- the plan wasn't for you or you didn't work it right so MOVE ON and find one that is for you through research etc. grrrrrrrrr! I can not STAND whiney folk who do not want to accept that THEY are responsible for themselves. Sorry for the rant but folk like this kill me. And they are plentiful in the weight loss arena.

[Chamie]

Oh crap! I was reading that book. No wonder I haven't lost any this week.


Jennifer

[cleochatra]

Chamie-- read his book. Just ignore the diet advice in the back! We're still starting the Dr Phil book tomorrow.

Allie-- I like Dr Phil. Just not his weight loss plan. He's still totally someone I admire. I agree that it burns my butt that people are so litigious. I'm sure there were lawsuits against Atkins, too, at one time.

[Barbde]

Out of curiosity, since I am not a Dr Phil follower...
Does he have any credentials besides being on Oprahs show? I am not being facetious, I am truly curious.

[FunkyFabDiva]

Dr. Phil...

[AllieCat0817]

Originally Posted by cleochatra

Chamie-- read his book. Just ignore the diet advice in the back! We're still starting the Dr Phil book tomorrow.

Allie-- I like Dr Phil. Just not his weight loss plan. .

Yes, I never paid attn to his weight loss plan but if it ain't low carb then I wouldn't agree w/ it either. But we are responsible for our health.. Dr Phil ain't. If his weight loss plan is crap then it's the consumer's job to know what they're putting in their mouths and why.

The whole 'innocent gullible overweight people' thing burns me up. Until one accepts that they are fully accountable to themselves, one may always be overweight.

[dreamof145]

I listen to a lot of his advice, get a kick out of his comments and agree with his Take responsibility for your own actions and outcomes when it comes to dealing with life and all its obstacles. But....when it comes to weight loss plans, I will stick with what I've found to be a tried and true plan...Dr. Atkins.