True weight-loss site? Fat chance!
A tech startup posted fake before-and-after photos of people who were said to have slimmed down using the antidiabetic drug Ozempic despite the fact that federal regulators never approved marketing the medication as a weight-loss pill, according to a report.
NextMed, a telehealth startup owned by Helio Logistics Inc, deleted the fake testimonials from its website after receiving inquiries from The Wall Street Journal.
It also stopped running television ads just a few days after the Journal sought information as to whether the people featured in the commercials were actual patients.
One ad featured sideby-side images of someone named “Laura” who claimed to have dropped 71 pounds.
“Over the past 20 years, I’ve spent a lot of time being fat,” the ad quoted “Laura” as saying. “It’s terrible and hurt my confidence, love life and career.”
“With Next Medical I’ve been able to take my life back,” the ad continued.
“Their GLP medication really works.”
The Journal discovered “Laura” was actually Tammy Ratcliffe, a woman who was featured in a 2018 Web story posted by Hartford HealthCare.
Ratcliffe underwent gastric bypass surgery. Initially weighing in at 240 pounds, she managed to reduce her weight by half thanks to the procedure.
NextMed also used another fake ad — this one which touted the story of “Rick,” who managed to shed nearly 100 pounds.
“It’s not that hard getting started,” the fake ad quotes “Rick” as saying.
“I waited a long time, but finally took the leap with Next Med.”
“Rick” then added: “I am down over 90 pounds.”
But the Journal found that “Rick” is actually Jack Boyce, whose real-life weight-loss success story was posted on the website of AFS Premier, the Texasbased diet and exercise consultancy firm.
NextMed didn’t respond to a request for comment.
NextMed says it “offers the only truly doctor and provider led weight-loss program” by “bund[ling] prescription GLP-1 medication, insurance support, monthly medical consultations, and repeat labtesting.”