The Shoe Expert's Blog

Reebok & The 25 Million Dollar ‘Toning’ Shoes

01 Oct 2011 5 Comments

by The Shoe Expert in Athletic Shoes, Exercising, Fashion, Physical Fitness, Shoes Tags: comfortable shoes, Dr. Michele Colon, EasyTone, Federal Trade Commission, foot doctor, foot expert, Footwear, podiatrist, Reebok, shoe expert, shoe trends, shoes, Skechers

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As you may or may not have heard, this week the Federal Trade Commission has ruled that Reebok has to reimburse its customers $25 million for deceptive advertising for EasyTone and RunTone shoes, according to MSNBC.com. I just have to add that I have been telling my patients, friends, and readers this for months: if you want a ‘toned’ butt or legs, you have to actually exercise. A pair of shoes cannot do the work for you! Countless patients have come into my office with these shoes (as well as Skechers Shape-Ups and other toning shoes), asking me what I think of them. Well, there you go. That’s what I think of them.

The Federal Trade Commission states that Reebok could not support specific claims made in ads that wearing EasyTone shoes resulted in “28 percent more strength and tone in the buttock muscles, 11 percent more strength and tone in the hamstring muscles, and 11 percent more strength and tone in the calf muscles than regular walking shoes.”

The settlement bars Reebok from making claims that its shoes are effective in toning or strengthening without supporting scientific evidence. Reebok has discontinued ads that contain the claims and has asked stores to remove offending signs and displays.

If you want a refund for EasyTone shoes, just fill out the application at http://reeboksettlement.com/FTC. You will get the refunds either directly from the Federal Trade Commission or through a court-approved, class action lawsuit. The amount of refunds will be determined by a federal judge.

Dedicated to your foot health and to your shoes,

Dr. Michele, The Shoe Expert

“All Shoes, All the Time!”

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