Do Electronic Ab Belts Really Work?
A Desperate Nation
Promising rock-hard abs with no sweat, a loss of 4 inches in a month and purporting that 10 minutes on a belt can equal 600 sit-ups, a set of fitness companies were looking for people who genuinely wanted to know “do electronic ab belts really work?” One product even suggested that slapping on a belt could be up to 30 percent more effective than “normal exercise.” This caused a lot of negative attention, which caused the government to step in. The head of the Federal Trade Commission said it best: “For years, marketers of diet and exercise products have been preying on overweight, out-of-shape consumers by hawking false hope in a pill, false hope in a bottle, and, now, in a belt. Unfortunately, there are no magic pills, potions, or pulsators for losing weight and getting into shape. The only winning combination is changing your diet and exercise.”
Government Says No
In 2002, the Federal Trade Commission filed complaints against three main companies selling to those wondering “do electronic ab belts really work?” The FTC is the arm of the government responsible for protecting consumers. The companies who received the complaint include AB Energizer, AbTronic and Flat Abs. Known for their infomercials on major cable networks, the FTC accused them of promising false results for the products they were charging for $40 to $120. Contrary to their claims, the FTC warned that these belts did not cause customers to lose inches or weight and gain six-packs. Known by the FTC as “Project ABSurd," these companies were ordered to pay $5 million in damages, and their products are off the shelves today.
Tips For You
Still dying to know “do electronic ab belts really work?” Consider these tips before calling that number;
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Run, don’t walk, the other way when a product says you can get results with “no sweat.” You absolutely have to exercise to get results.
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Be skeptical of products that promise spot-treatment. You can’t really work one body part with a gadget. You also need a sound eating plan and most likely plenty of cardio.
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Read the fine print. For example, if you need to exercise and eat well while using the device, that could be what’s causing the results, not the gadget in question.
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Scope out customer support, and see how available and helpful they are. You may need them later.
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When ordering online, be wary of websites that lack address or phone number information.
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Don’t trust before and after pictures. Results are not typical, and they don’t tell the whole story.
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Learn about the warranties before throwing down the money. Shipping the product back may not be worth the refund.
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To learn more about how to avoid fitness scams, read the FTC publications “Avoiding the Muscle Hustle” and “Pump Fiction: When Marketers Overextend Their Fitness Claims.”
