Background
During adolescence, weight and body image are a major health issue. While girls perceived themselves as too fat, boys considered themselves as not being muscular and too thin.¹ Consequently, a high proportion of adolescents are trying to change their weight and body proportions by using weight control products in order to achieve their ideal body image, which is defined as slimness and muscularity. Socio-cultural pressures from families, peers and the media are considered to be the major influences affecting the development of weight concerns.² The media are powerful transmitters for reflecting the ideal body image, particularly through advertisements. Nowadays, the Internet is an easy way to access information about diets and weight control products. By addressing the problems of weight control advertisements, extravagant claims like fast result, no diet or exercise required, no consumer warning, no side effects mentioned, and lack of reliable evidence have been heightened.^3,4 This study aims to develop evaluation tools for weight control advertisements in order to inform consumer decisions about using these products.

Method
Each of 50 Websites identified by Internet search engines for weight loss products and weight gain products were evaluated using a specific scoring tool, which was developed by adapting questions from the "DISCERN" tool and reviewing all related criteria and regulations, and 12 Websites were systematically selected to test reliability of the tool using the Pearson�s correlation coefficient.

Discussion
Our findings confirm those of other studies.^3,4 Information on weight control advertisements on the Internet needs to be regulated. Problems of false claims, little advice on the healthy ways to change weight and few warnings on side effects were highlighted in our samples.

1. Xie B, Liu C, Chou CP et al. Weight perception and psychological factors in Chinese adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health 2003; 33: 202-210.

2. Wertheim EH, Paxton SJ, Schutz HK, and Muir SL. Why do adolescent girls watch their weight? An interview study examining socio-cultural pressures to be thin. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 1997; 42(4): 345-355.

3. Mason P. Diets on the internet: A slimmer�s dream or nightmare? The Pharmaceutical Journal 2003; 270: 28-29.

4. Philen RM, Ortiz DI, Auerbach SB, and Falk H. Survey of advertising for nutritional supplements in health and bodybuilding magazines. JAMA 1992; 268(8): 1008-1011.