Dr. Phil settles in diet scandal case.

buttmunch · September 26th, 2006, 02:22 PM

Quote:

(AP) Unhappy customers who sued "Dr. Phil" McGraw over his now discontinued Shape Up! diet plan have reached a $10.5 million settlement agreement with the TV psychologist, an attorney for the plaintiffs said.

The lawsuit, filed in 2004 on behalf of three disappointed consumers, claimed McGraw defrauded fans with his yearlong venture into the diet supplement business, making false statements about the pills. McGraw has denied the allegations and admitted no wrongdoing or misrepresentation in the settlement.

Henry H. Rossbacher, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said thousands of eligible customers nationwide will be able to choose either replacement products or a small cash reward as part of the settlement. It wasn't immediately clear how much each person could receive.

Rossbacher said a fund would be set up with $6 million in Nutrilite vitamins and $4.5 million in cash.

Insurance will cover the costs of the settlement and McGraw will have no personal obligation to contribute to the fund, Rossbacher said.

Attempts to leave a phone message at the office of McGraw's lawyer, Gregory Phillips, were unsuccessful early Tuesday.

McGraw, 56, jumped into the lucrative weight-loss market in mid-2003 with a campaign that included advice books, a prime-time special with Katie Couric on obesity and dieting, and his Shape Up! with Dr. Phil McGraw products.

Shape Up! shakes, bars and multivitamins made by Irving, Texas-based CSA Nutraceuticals were sold in supermarkets, Target, Wal-Mart and elsewhere. The plan called for 22 pills daily at $120 a month.

CSA Nutraceuticals agreed to stop making the supplements in early 2004 as it faced a Federal Trade Commission investigation into false-advertising concerns.

According to the label, the pills "contain scientifically researched levels of ingredients that can help you change your behavior to take control of your weight."

The original three plaintiffs sought class action status for the lawsuit last year. Rossbacher said consumers who can establish by affidavit or proof of purchase that they bought Shape Up! supplements before July 1 may be eligible for the settlement's benefits.

http://www.showbuzz.cbsnews.com/stor...n2039783.shtml

Hahhahahaha...I always thought it was hilarious to see this rather rotund man expounding upon the benefits of a healthy diet and slimming lifestyle.

LynnieD · September 26th, 2006, 02:40 PM

Think this will shut his trap?? Not a chance. Yet, still glad.

Goose · September 26th, 2006, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Shape Up! shakes, bars and multivitamins made by Irving, Texas-based CSA Nutraceuticals were sold in supermarkets, Target, Wal-Mart and elsewhere. The plan called for 22 pills daily at $120 a month.

22 pills a DAY????? I'm not well versed in weight loss suplements, since I try to stay away from them, but holy crap that seems like a lot!

celeb_2006 · September 26th, 2006, 04:14 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060926/...NlYwNtZW5ld3M-

Attempts to leave a phone message at the office of McGraw's lawyer, Gregory Phillips, were unsuccessful early Tuesday.
McGraw, 56, jumped into the lucrative weight-loss market in mid-2003 with a campaign that included advice books, a prime-time special with Katie Couric on obesity and dieting, and his Shape Up! with Dr. Phil McGraw products.
Shape Up! shakes, bars and multivitamins made by Irving, Texas-based CSA Nutraceuticals were sold in supermarkets, Target, Wal-Mart and elsewhere. The plan called for 22 pills daily at $120 a month.
CSA Nutraceuticals agreed to stop making the supplements in early 2004 as it faced a Federal Trade Commission investigation into false-advertising concerns.
According to the label, the pills "contain scientifically researched levels of ingredients that can help you change your behavior to take control of your weight."

I'm thinking maybe some of the people on the plan just took the pills and didn't have the most healthy of diets, believing it was some magic pill.

aabbcc · September 26th, 2006, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goose

22 pills a DAY????? I'm not well versed in weight loss suplements, since I try to stay away from them, but holy crap that seems like a lot!

It IS a lot!

The problem with diet scams like this is that they tend to be very low calorie, they don't teach you how to eat properly, and as soon as you go off the plan, you gain all the weight back plus some. Depending on what is in those pills, it could also be dangerous if you have any health problems and take them without your doctor's knowledge.

A*O · September 26th, 2006, 05:39 PM

22 pills a day is ridiculous. I agree, people probably continued to eat massive amounts of junk and hoped the pills would somehow make it healthy. The problem is that people still have no clue about a healthy diet or lifestyle. That's why they are fat, and that's why they are raising fat kids.

Sojiita · September 26th, 2006, 06:34 PM

'the pills "contain scientifically researched levels of ingredients that can help you change your behavior to take control of your weight."-what a stupid thing to put on there..alluding directly to the drugs being behavior-modifying-how the hell were they going to prove that?
settlement = guilty of quackery IMO in this case.

Elvira · September 26th, 2006, 06:41 PM

I wonder if Jay Leno will have anything to say about this. He used to rib Dr. Phil about his appearance and the fact that he sells weight loss products. Dr. Phil just squirmed and laughed it off.

A*O · September 26th, 2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elvira

I wonder if Jay Leno will have anything to say about this. He used to rib Dr. Phil about his appearance and the fact that he sells weight loss products. Dr. Phil just squirmed and laughed it off.

Hey, I remember seeing that. As I recall Dr Phil got really rattled. He tried to joke it off but you could see he was getting pissy