2007年VOA标准英语-US Reaches 'New Year's Resolution' in Dispute O

By Carol Pearson
Washington, DC
09 January 2007
 
watch Weight Loss Drug report

The federal government has slapped multimillion-dollar fines on companies that market four types of weight-control compounds. Not because the pills are unsafe, but because regulators decided¹ the companies' claims about their products' results were false.

People throughout the world spend billions of dollars a year on weight loss pills.

 
Weight loss drugs
The U.S. government says some of these pills -- including Xenadrine EFX, CortiSlim, TrimSpa and One-a-Day WeightSmart, do not live up to advertising² claims.

Deborah Platt Majoras, from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, says the loss to the consumer is not weight. "Paying for fad³ science and miracle ingredients is a good way to lose nothing but your cash."

The Federal Trade Commission says claims by the makers⁴ of these products are not backed by science.  The Commission says celebrity⁵ endorsements⁶ and other advertising make losing weight seem easy.

The marketers have to pay hefty fines.  The companies have also agreed to change their ads, although Bayer, which makes WeightSmart, and TrimSpa say scientific research does back their product claims. People will still be able to buy these products because they are not considered harmful. 

 
The products are also available outside the United States.

But weight-loss expert Dr. Louis Aronne hopes consumers will be more aware. "My hope is that what will come from this is that consumers will be more aware and more skeptical⁷ of these products, that businesses won't carry them."

However, TrimSpa say it does not expect the ruling to impact sales.

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

3 fad   

n.时尚；一时流行的狂热；一时的爱好

参考例句：

• His interest in photography is only a passing fad.他对摄影的兴趣只是一时的爱好罢了。
• A hot business opportunity is based on a long-term trend not a short-lived fad.一个热门的商机指的是长期的趋势而非一时的流行。

4 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

6 endorsements   

n.背书( endorsement的名词复数 )；（驾驶执照上的）违章记录；（公开的）赞同；（通常为名人在广告中对某一产品的）宣传

参考例句：

• He must make much money on those tennis shoe endorsements he does. 他替那些网球鞋珍重广告，就赚了不少钱。 来自互联网
• But celebrity endorsements remain an important promotional tool for marketers. 尽管如此，邀明星助阵仍是营销人员重要的推广手段之一。 来自互联网

7 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。