Slimming patch net advert banned

An internet advert for a slimming patch which claimed users could lose a stone (6.35kg) in two weeks has been banned.

The ad for the Pink Patch was branded "irresponsible" by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) which said it promoted "bad medical practice".

The ASA said there was no evidence that the herbal ingredients in the patch caused any loss of weight.

Nobody from CYC Marketing, which was behind the advert, was available for comment on the watchdog's ruling.

Special investigation

The ASA judgement said: "The evidence did not persuade us that wearing the Pink Patch would result in a loss of body fat and we concluded that the claim 'drop a stone in two weeks' was unsubstantiated and could mislead."

The watchdog also found some studies for the patch were carried out on animals instead of humans, which is against its code.

ASA spokeswoman Olivia Campbell: "The ad was irresponsible for promoting bad medical practice of losing a stone in two weeks and failed to provide persuasive scientific evidence to substantiate its claims."

The banning of the advert comes after a special investigation by BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat which spoke to young women desperate to lose weight.

The company behind the Pink Patch told the BBC at the time that it followed strict manufacturing guidelines.

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