Weight Watchers is suing the fat off Jenny Craig.
The New York-based weight loss giant has filed a lawsuit against diet competitor Jenny Craig Inc. for allegedly lying in a new ad. Weight Watchers claims the ad, featuring actress Valerie Bertinelli, uses deception to capitalize on consumers’ New Year’s resolutions to shed extra pounds.
According to the suit filed in Manhattan Federal Court on Tuesday, Weight Watchers contends that Jenny falsely claimed in a commercial released last month that “a major clinical trial” shows its clients on average lost more than twice as much weight as “those on the largest weight loss program,” a reference to Weight Watchers.
The commercial features Bertinelli in a lab coat and surrounded by “scientists” and is part of a print, TV, and online campaign designed to “capitalize on this crucial consumer dieting season,” the suit said.
Weight Watchers believes Jenny did not in fact conduct any clinical trials comparing the companies’ products, and further allege that the studies the company cited in the ad in question were conducted 10 years ago.
Weight Watchers wants the court to pull the Jenny Craig ad and force the weight loss chain to run “corrective advertising.” They are also seeking an unspecified sum in punitive damages.