Requirements for weight management claims in advertising

An advertisement about therapeutic goods that makes claims relating to weight management must:

• prominently display or communicate the need for a healthy energy-controlled diet and physical activity
• not indicate that the goods could correct or reverse the effects of overeating or over-consumption of food or drink
• not include visual representations, statistics or testimonials of individuals that are inconsistent with the results that would be expected to be achieved on average by consumers of the goods.

Weight management includes the following:

• weight loss
• weight control
• weight maintenance
• measurement reduction
• clothing size reduction
• hunger suppression.

Please note:

• Any claims made in the advertising of medicines must be in accordance with the accepted indications for the product on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.
• Before and after photos may indicate a claim in the eyes of the consumer.
• Trade or product names could be written in such a way as to be considered a claim and would therefore need to be consisted with the ARTG indications as well as be subject to the Code when included in advertising.

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