CCPA Slaps VLCC with Fine for Misleading Fat-Loss Ads
• VLCC’s Fat-Loss Lie: Regulator Fines Wellness Giant ₹3 Lakh
• Unapproved Machines, Unproven Results
• Drop a Size” Ad Called Out
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
- CCPA Slaps VLCC with Fine for Misleading Fat-Loss Ads
- • VLCC’s Fat-Loss Lie: Regulator Fines Wellness Giant ₹3 Lakh
- • Unapproved Machines, Unproven Results
- • Drop a Size” Ad Called Out
- CCPA Slaps VLCC with Penalty for Misleading Fat-Loss Advertisements
- Unsubstantiated Claims and Safety Concerns Exposed
- Cool Sculpting Ads Ignored Demographic Limitations
- Investigative Probe Triggered by Consumer Complaint
- CCPA Clamps Down on Unfair Consumer Agreements
India’s Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has fined VLCC Ltd ₹3 lakh for publishing misleading advertisements. The regulator found VLCC’s claims for its Lipolaser and CoolSculpting fat-loss treatments were unsubstantiated and omitted critical information, including a lack of regulatory approval for equipment and demographic limitations in clinical studies. The order also prohibits VLCC from using unfair consumer consent forms.
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CCPA Slaps VLCC with Penalty for Misleading Fat-Loss Advertisements
In a significant move against deceptive marketing practices, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a financial penalty of ₹3 lakh on wellness giant VLCC Ltd. The penalty targets misleading advertisements for the company’s Lipolaser and CoolSculpting non-invasive fat-reduction treatments. The order, issued by CCPA Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra, found the claims to be entirely unsubstantiated, potentially endangering consumer safety and violating trust.
The regulatory body determined that these advertisements grossly misled consumers regarding the efficacy and scientific backing of the procedures. This action underscores the authority’s intensified focus on holding major corporations accountable for marketing claims that lack transparent, verifiable evidence. The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been tracking a rise in such grievances within the aesthetics and wellness industry.
Unsubstantiated Claims and Safety Concerns Exposed
The CCPA’s scrutiny revealed that VLCC advertised its Lipolaser treatment with a promise clients could lose “up to 6cm and 400g in one session.” However, when pressed, the company failed to provide any credible scientific studies to validate these specific outcomes. The authority noted a critical red flag: the Lipolaser machine itself lacked necessary regulatory approvals, suggesting a potential failure to meet established safety standards.
This omission directly placed consumers at risk, according to the regulatory findings. The penalty amount was calculated considering VLCC’s dominant market presence and its substantial turnover, which exceeded ₹35 crore in the last two financial years. The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) confirms that the company’s extensive reach amplified the misleading advertisement’s impact on a vast consumer base.
Cool Sculpting Ads Ignored Demographic Limitations
Regarding CoolSculpting, VLCC’s advertisements claimed clients could “drop 1 size in one session.” The investigation discovered that these results were based on a clinical trial involving only 57 participants, all of whom were foreign nationals—Caucasians, Hispanics, and African Americans. Critically, the study included no Indian or Asian participants, a material fact omitted from all promotional materials.
This lack of demographic transparency misled consumers about the treatment’s probable effectiveness for the Indian body type. The CCPA has now mandated that VLCC must include prominent disclaimers in all future CoolSculpting advertisements. These disclaimers must clarify the targeted body areas, specify a BMI limit of 30 for effectiveness, and disclose the demographic limitations of the foundational study.
Also Read: Mumbai ED Arrests Amit Thepade in ₹117 Crore Bank Fraud.
Investigative Probe Triggered by Consumer Complaint
The case originated from a complaint filed by Hyderabad resident Ajay Gupta, who challenged a VLCC advertisement promoting fat loss through CoolSculpting. Following a show-cause notice issued in September 2023, the Director General (Investigation) conducted a probe. The investigation concluded that VLCC likely violated Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which explicitly prohibits misleading advertisements.
Although VLCC subsequently agreed to discontinue the specific CoolSculpting ads in question, it maintained its denial of misleading customers. The CCPA order overruled this defense, stating VLCC had clearly violated consumer rights by withholding vital information. The findings from this official probe align with earlier reports by the Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) on industry-wide issues with consent and transparency.
CCPA Clamps Down on Unfair Consumer Agreements
In a strongly worded segment of the order, the CCPA condemned VLCC’s practice of making customers sign a declaration that “lack of results will not be construed as a deficiency of service.” The authority ruled that such clauses directly negate the treatment promises made in advertisements and are fundamentally unfair to consumers.
These clauses were deemed prejudicial and crafted with an “unfair motive to escape legal liability.” The CCPA has ordered VLCC to immediately discontinue this practice. This directive aims to prevent companies from using legal waivers to sidestep accountability for the ambitious results they advertise, ensuring stronger consumer protection across the market.
