“In only six days I lost seven pounds of weight .”
“Two full inches in the first three days!”
These are the kinds of statements used in magazine, newspaper, radio and television ads, promising new shapes and new looks to those who buy the medicine or the device of such products say they can shape the legs, slim the face, smooth wrinkles, or in some other way to beauty or desirability.
Often such products are nothing more than money-making things for their promoter. The results they produce are questionable, and some are dangerous to health.
To understand how these products can be legally promoted to the public, it is necessary to understand something of the laws covering their regulation. If the product is a drug, FDA(Food Drug Administration)can require proof (证明)under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that it is safe and effective before it is put on the market. But if the product is a device, FDA has no authority to require premarketing proof of safety or effectiveness. If a product already on the market is a danger to health, FDA can request the producer or distributor to remove it from the market voluntarily, or it can take legal action ,including seizure (查封) of the product.
One notable case a few years ago involved an electrical device called the Relaxacisor, had been sold for reducing the waistline. The Relaxacisor produced electrical shocks to the body through contact pads. FDA took legal action against the distributor to stop the sale of the device on the grounds that it was dangerous to health and life.
Obviously, most of the devices on the market have never been the subject of court proceedings (法律诉讼), and new devices appear continually, Before buying, it is up to the consumer to judge the safety or effectiveness of such items.

“我只用了六天就减了七磅的体重。”

“使用三天腰围就减了整整两英寸！”

这些话经常出现在杂志，报纸，收音机及电视的广告中，向买他们的药或设备的人保证会给他们带来新的体形或外貌，他们声称这些药物或设备能修整腿形，使脸变瘦，使皱纹变平，或在其它的方面使人变漂亮或满足人们的各种美容要求。

通常这些产品只不过是为了赚钱----把东西变成钱。它们的效果很可疑，有些甚至对健康有害。

要想知道这些产品如何合法地推销给公众，首先必须明白一些相关的法律。如果该产品为药品，在其上市之前FDA（食品药品监督局）可以依据<联邦食品药品化妆品法>(美国)要求生产商证明该产品安全有效。但是如果该产品为设备，FDA则没有权力要求其在上市前证明其产品安全有效性。如果市面上的某种产品对健康有危险，FDA可以要求制造商或经销商自愿地将其下架，否则FDA可以采取法律措施，包括查封该产品。

几年前有过一起值得注意的案例，其中涉及一种叫“Relaxacisor”（“电子放松仪”）作电子设备，出售时声称其具有降低腰围的作用。“电子放松仪”通过触点对身体放电。FDA以“电子放松仪”会对使用者的健康与生命造成危险为理由采取法律措施来阻止经销商销售该产品。

很显然，市面上的大多数设备从没有被法律诉讼过，而新产品又不断地出现。购买之前，消费者自己应该首先判断这类产品的安全性与效用。