Forum: Clamp down on advertisers making exaggerated weight loss claims

I am concerned about the increasing prevalence of misleading weight loss advertisements in Singapore.

It is reported that there have been more overweight and obese individuals in our society in recent years. Yet at the same time, more people are becoming health-conscious and are actively seeking ways to lose weight.

According to the Health Promotion Board and healthcare experts, the only proven and sustainable way to lose weight is by controlling one’s calorie intake and engaging in regular physical exercise.

However, despite this well-established medical consensus, advertisers, including some established brands, continue to make baseless and misleading claims about rapid and effortless weight loss programmes.

Some advertisements aired on national television claim that one can lose up to 7cm of waistline in just 30 minutes. Such claims are unrealistic and scientifically impossible. 

Similarly, radio advertisements can be heard promoting treatments that allegedly allow consumers to “continue eating whatever they enjoy without the need for exercise”, promising weight loss without any form of diet control or physical activity.

While Singapore has a regulatory framework governing advertising standards, enforcement appears to be lax. As a result, advertisers seem increasingly emboldened to make even more ludicrous and unsubstantiated claims, misleading consumers who may already be vulnerable or desperate to lose weight.

I urge the authorities to strengthen enforcement of existing advertising regulations and take firm action against advertisers who disseminate false or exaggerated claims. 

The mainstream media can also do its part by advising advertisers to correct their exaggerated claims before they are broadcast. Doing so will help protect consumers and uphold the integrity of public health messages in Singapore.

Derek Wee