The Weight-Loss Product That's So Ridiculous the Gov't Is Now Requiring the Company to Refund People Who Bought It

The federal government is cracking down on two clothing manufacturers who marketed some undergarments as being "infused" with caffeine that would help the wearer cut a trimmer silhouette.

Wearing "caffeine-infused" underwear will not lead to inches off your hips, the FTC said Monday. (Photo credit: Shutterstock)

The Federal Trade Commission addressed complaints of false advertising by Norm Thompson Outfitters, Inc., and Wacoal America, Inc., and is requiring them to pay $1.5 million in consumer refunds for the "shapewear."

“Caffeine-infused shapewear is the latest ‘weight-loss’ brew concocted by marketers,” Jessica Rich, the director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. “If someone says you can lose weight by wearing the clothes they are selling, steer clear. The best approach is tried and true: diet and exercise.”

The agreement came on Monday, which was somewhat appropriate given that it was National Coffee Day, a day devoted to the caffeinated beverage.

The FTC alleged that the Norm Thompson Outfitter's claims that the shapewear could reduce cellulite and hip and thigh measurements "without any effort" are not true, and thus violate the FTC Act. Wacoal America made similar claims that the FTC also said were not substantiated with any scientific evidence.

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Front page image via Shutterstock.