Health claim: Weight loss shot dissolves fat
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Rating
Health claim: Weight loss shot dissolves fat
Our Review Summary
The newspaper says this column was part of an ongoing series looking at the reality behind health claims. We love such efforts. Of course, it’s what we do every day on this site!
Why This Matters
Efforts like Jeremy Singer-Vine’s Research Report column in the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times’ Healthy Skeptic column, the Consumer Reports AdWatch series, and this Chicago Tribune series could be a model for other news organizations for devoting more space to questioning the myriad claims made about health care interventions.
Criteria
Not Satisfactory
Costs weren’t mentioned and we wish they had been to help drive home the point of questionable cost effectiveness.
Satisfactory
Again, the FDA says it’s "not aware" of clinical studies showing lipodissolve is effective or safe.
Satisfactory
Again cites the FDA: "Unexpected side effects include permanent scarring, skin deformation, and deep, painful knots under the skin in areas where the lipodissolve treatments were injected."
Satisfactory
States that "the FDA says it’s ‘not aware’ of clinical studies showing lipodissolve is effective or safe."
Satisfactory
No disease-mongering.
Not Satisfactory
The story only quoted an FDA official. This is really a minor quibble in this case, but we wish we had heard from at least one clinician.
Not Applicable
The story’s sole focus was on the FDA warnings about lipodissolve, so in this case it wasn’t entirely necessary to look at other options. Not applicable.
Satisfactory
Although the story didn’t explictly discuss how widespread was the use of these shots, it’s clear from the story that they’re widely available.
Not Applicable
The story wasn’t make any claims of novelty. Not applicable.
Not Applicable
We can’t be sure if the story relied solely on a news release.
Total Score: 5 of 7 Satisfactory
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