Some describe New Year’s as the “world championship” of weight loss, as adults are bombarded with weight-loss claims and promises. For millions of well-intentioned dieters, the chaos can result in confusion, frustration and, ultimately, disappointment.

According to a new survey of 2,058 adults, conducted in late November by Harris Interactive® on behalf of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (NYSE: GSK), 52 percent of Americans say they plan to make a serious attempt to lose weight in 2008. But as January approaches and the drumbeat of quick and easy weight-loss promises grows louder, these individuals can become increasingly confused about what to believe.

To help overweight adults distinguish fact from fiction at this pivotal time of year, alli® is providing free access to thousands of hours worth of weight-loss advice from healthcare professionals. As the Harris Interactive survey shows, dieters value such support, but rarely take advantage of it: three quarters (73 percent) of U.S. adults who plan to make a serious attempt to lose weight in 2008 believe that outside help from a dietitian, pharmacist or other healthcare professional would help them achieve their weight-loss goals, but only a fraction (17 percent) of these adults plan to seek such support.

From January 4 – 7, 2008, alli will sponsor “Make This Year Different,” a weight-loss event designed to ease some of the barriers to seeking expert advice on weight-loss issues and to help overweight adults benefit from the counsel of healthcare professionals. This guidance may help to make this year different for anyone who has tried ineffective weight-loss strategies in the past, or who is simply confused by the influx of weight-loss claims at this time of year.

People 18+ can call 866-551-DIFFERENT between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST to speak live with a dietitian or pharmacist, or to hear pre-recorded diet, nutrition, behavioral and exercise tips. The recorded information is also available before and after help-line hours, and will remain accessible through January 31, 2008.

Individuals can also visit MakeThisYearDifferent.com between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST for live online chats with dietitians or pharmacists, in private or group chat room discussions. The Web site will also feature diet and exercise videos and answers to common questions about the alli weight-loss program.

Separating Weight-Loss Help from Hype

When it comes to weight-loss products, U.S. adults who plan to make a serious attempt to lose weight in 2008 have considerable knowledge gaps, particularly with regard to appetite suppressants, herbal products and dietary supplements.

These products are not required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to submit safety or efficacy studies, or to include warnings about potential side effects on their labels; however, the Harris Interactive survey shows:

Three in five (58 percent) think these products are at least somewhat effective.
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One-third (37 percent) incorrectly believe these products were approved for safety and effectiveness by the FDA before being sold to the public.
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Two in five (44 percent) mistakenly assume the government requires warnings about potential side effects on the labels of these products.

In fact, the survey found that about 18 million adults who want to lose weight this year will rely on products that have not been reviewed and approved by the FDA before being sold to the public.

Nutrition Business Journal, a trade publication, reports that Americans spent an estimated $1.6 billion on weight-loss supplements in 2005. Given this level of investment, there should be no confusion over what they are getting for their money, says Rebecca Reeves, DrPH, RD, a GSK consultant who is past president of the American Dietetic Association and managing director of the Behavioral Medicine Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine.

“Weight-loss supplements claim to deliver extraordinary results with less effort than more traditional behavioral changes, such as diet and exercise,” says Reeves. “However, there is scarce scientific data available to validate these product claims, which is unfortunate for the 66 percent or so of American adults who are overweight and obese.”

Steven Burton, vice president, weight control, for GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, the maker of alli, says that “Make This Year Different” will provide important information that dieters might not otherwise get.

“Millions of overweight and obese Americans are incredibly frustrated with their efforts to lose weight, and unrealistic expectations and false hope feed that frustration,” says Burton. “Our goal is to give dieters the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and to help them identify weight-loss strategies that are safe, effective and proven to help them lose weight.”

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare announced in October that it had sold more than 2 million alli starter packs at retail, and that alli users are enthusiastically embracing alli and its proven track record of helping people lose weight gradually. The only FDA-approved, over-the-counter weight-loss product, alli works by blocking the absorption of about 25 percent of the fat in the foods people eat, helping them lose 50 percent more weight than they would through diet and exercise alone.

Editor’s Note: To preview or download event and product fact sheets, survey results, broadcast standard b-roll, photos, audio, logos and other media assets, visit http://makethisyeardifferent.mediaseed.tv.

About alli® Weight-Loss Aid
alli (orlistat 60mg), the only FDA-approved weight-loss product available to overweight adults without a prescription, combines a clinically-proven product with a comprehensive individualized support plan. The alli program encourages modest, gradual weight loss, known by experts as the best way to lose weight. alli is to be taken three times a day with meals containing fat and has been available in pharmacies and mass retailers nationwide since June 15, 2007.

About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
GSK Consumer Healthcare is one of the world’s largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette®, NicoDerm® CQ and Commit® as well as many medicine cabinet staples, including Abreva®, Aquafresh®, Sensodyne,® Tums® and Breathe Right®.

About GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company information visit: http://www.gsk.com.

About the Survey
Harris Interactive conducted this online survey on behalf of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare between November 26 and November 28, 2007 among 2,058 adults ages 18+, of whom 1,106 are planning to make a series attempt to lose weight in 2008. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the U.S. adult population. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical estimates of sampling error can be calculated. For complete methodology, including weighting variables, please contact David Schemelia

Source: GSK Consumer Healthcare