GOLO Diet Lawsuit: What You Need to Know

The GOLO program, which promises weight loss without dieting, is involved in a lawsuit alleging that it contains misleading claims about being "clinically proven."

The nationwide class action lawsuit filed by Lead plaintiff Vincenzza Bubak in 2021 alleges that GOLO, LLC, a company based in Delaware, sold its products "using false and misleading labeling and advertising" that harms the public.

If unstopped, it "could lead to substantial societal harm," according to the complaint.

What is the GOLO diet?

The GOLO program promises weight reduction by targeting insulin resistance with supplements rather than following restrictive diets. The capsule, Release, must be taken with balanced meals, according to its website.

Insulin resistance occurs when cells don't respond well to insulin, a hormone that regulates how the body absorbs sugar.

While insulin resistance is often accompanied by weight gain, some insulin-resistant people are not overweight or obese. The condition may lead to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes; however, many people with mild insulin resistance may never develop diabetes.

The GOLO program also promises to "lose real fat weight" and fasten the metabolism.

What does the lawsuit say?

The lawsuit allegations fall under three categories:

• Implied disease claims, such as that insulin resistance is the major obstacle to weight loss and causes conditions like heart disease and Alzheimer's. The company's website provides a questionnaire to "diagnose" insulin resistance.
• Inadequate directions for use. According to the complaint, the supplement is offered "for conditions that are not amenable to self-diagnosis" and treatment by individuals who are not medical practitioners.
• Misleading "clinically proven" claim. The lawsuit states that the "clinically proven" claim can only be applied to products that underwent "sufficiently large, randomized, controlled, double-blind studies," scrutinized by peer review, and subjected to scholarly debate by diverse panels of scientific experts.

Several clinical studies examining the GOLO program and the Release supplement showed improved blood glucose levels, insulin levels, weight loss, and body composition.

However, these trials were funded by GOLO, which may have affected the conclusions.

The lawsuit alleges that GOLO violated California's Unfair Competition Law, California's False Advertising Law, and California's Consumer Legal Remedies Act.

Currently, there is little information about any updates on the GOLO lawsuit. However, it is still ongoing.

Is the Release pill FDA-approved?

The Release capsule is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration, as the agency is not authorized to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness.

The FAQ section on the GOLO website says that all the ingredients in the capsule are on the FDA-approved list known as Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS).

The pill contains three minerals: magnesium, zinc, and chromium, as well as inositol and extracts of rhodiola, berberine, gardenia, salaterin salacia, and apple.