A lawsuit has been filed in Los Angeles against fitness and weight loss expert Jillian Michaels with claims that one of her weight loss products contains a “potentially lethal combination of toxic ingredients.” At the center of this controversy is the Triple Process Total Body Detox & Cleanse diet supplement, which contains four questionable ingredients.
According to the Jillian Michaels website, the product is designed to start your, um, digestive tract out with a clean slate, so to speak. “It will help reduce belly bloat, reduce body waste buildup, support your colon and digestive system, help support the liver’s natural detoxification process, and help you feel lighter and more energized. “ No actual ingredient list is available online, but according to the lawsuit there are four potentially toxic ingredients: Irish moss powder, bearberry, Chinese rhubarb, and yarrow.
As reported earlier this week, weight-loss aids and dietary supplements do not require FDA approval and aren’t subject to the same rigorous standards as are prescription drugs. Therefore, they can be sold with only a limited proof of effectiveness or safety. Only through multiple complaints of serious side effects can the FDA step in with a query or require a product to be pulled from the market-which is precisely why they can be so potentially dangerous.
Consumer Reports recently identified 12 supplement ingredients linked to serious adverse events by clinical research or case reports. None of the four in question showed up on this list, but that does not mean that they are not harmful individually or when mixed collectively in a supplement. The suit alleges that Michaels and Thin Care International, which markets and promotes the product, “actively and fraudulently” conspired to hide the risks posed by the supplement and the unnamed plaintiff is seeking more than $10 million in damages.
To be fair, on the sales page for the product in question, there is a notation that calls out the addition of Chinese Rhubarb, stating the possible side effects and recommending discontinuation of the product if gastrointestinal issues arise. There is also a lengthy warning about side effects and who should and should not use this product.
Jillian Michaels has developed a “total life solution” that stresses the integration of fitness, nutrition, and behavioral changes. She became popular on the reality TV show The Biggest Loser and has translated that fame into a widespread weight loss empire. Her weight loss program is greatly admired and has been beneficial to many; but with this, her third lawsuit involving her weight loss supplements, the safety of such has definitely been thrown into question.
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