Government should strengthen regulation in the weight loss industry.

Rationales for government regulation in the weight loss industry are developed on the basis of the concepts of market failure and potential harm to consumers. Evidence shows that consumers face problems in judging the quality of the industry's products and services, and they lack adequate protection against possible harm. The pros and cons of a variety of public and private strategies are examined for correcting these deficiencies. Recommendations are suggested for strengthening existing government regulations and expanding research.