December 13th, 2011
FDA says billboards and advertisements promoting Lap-Band downplay risks
By Associated Press
Washington Post
Federal health officials have issued warning letters to eight surgical centers and a marketing firm in California for misleading advertisements promoting the Lap-Band, a stomach-restricting device used to treat obesity.
The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that advertisements by the centers and a marketing firm, 1-800-GET-THIN, do not provide mandatory information about the risks and side effects of Lap-Band implantation. The stomach-restricting band — made by Irvine, Calif.-based Allergan Inc. — limits food intake, but can also cause irritation of the esophagus, infection, nausea and vomiting in some cases.
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