Weight Loss Product Distributors

In general, weight loss product distributors are individuals who sell products that promote weight loss. Direct selling is defined as the sale of a consumer product or service, person-to-person, away from a fixed retail location. Although most weight loss product distributors are individuals who operate independently through home-based businesses, a few purchase the products in bulk at wholesale prices to sell in their retail shops.

Since America is obsessed with being thin, a lot of people find they can make a very profitable living selling weight loss products. Consider this--just about every weight loss product available for sale can be purchased from an independent distributor. Also, the number of products on the market seems to be growing every day.

Regulating Weight Loss Product Distribution

Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not fully regulate weight loss products, with the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994 they have started cracking down on the claims that are being made by weight loss product distributors. The ruling not only applies to products that are sold in stores, but it applies to items that are available for purchase online. On April 1, 2004, the FDA sent warning letters to 16 distributors who were making false claims about their products on the Internet.

The law prohibits weight loss product distributors and manufacturers from stating that their products can alter or positively affect the body's structure or function without substantial proof. Those individuals who violated the rules were ordered to immediately submit to the FDA scientific evidence that supports their claims. In contrast, those who were unable to validate their claims were required to retract their assertions and modify their labels and advertisements accordingly. This has led to greater truth in product claims, both in stores and online.