Pure Weight Loss Closing 400 Centers

Pure Weight Loss, formerly known as L.A. Weight Loss, announced last week that they will be closing over 400 of their weight loss centers. Some locations have already closed and all locations will be closed by January 4, 2008.

In a news article from the Philadelphia Daily News a spokesperson for a Pure Weight Loss Center in the Philadelphia area did not know whether the company was filing for bankruptcy or not.

Pure Weight Loss endorsed and sold the new popular weight loss pill, Alli. Alli has received a lot of criticism since it was approved earlier this year by the FDA for over-the-counter use. Alli is a form of the prescription weight loss drug, Orlistat. Some side effects of using Alli include diarrhea, anal leakage and gastrointestinal problems.

Pure Weight Loss released the following statement as their reasons for closing. "Fierce competition from the Internet, the introduction of Alli, the over-the-counter weight loss pill, and other commercial diet programs, combined with a difficult economic environment, have forced us to take this action."

Pure Weight Loss/L.A. Weight Loss has been under scrutiny for the past few years for some of their sales and marketing tactics. Lawsuits have resulted due to Pure Weight Loss falsely advertising the cost of the program.

Current Pure Weight Loss clients, who posted about the closing on FranchisePick.com, claim that while they were happy with the program they fear they will not be refunded for all of the lites and program and maintenance fees they prepaid. Some comments say that the corporate website has already shut down and phone calls and emails by clients are not being responded to. After reading about the locations closing, I checked the Pure Weight Loss site myself and the only page available is one giving the closing date and contact information.