BBB National Programs Archive

WalkFit, LLC Participates In ERSP Forum

New York, NY – August 5, 2005 – The Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program (ERSP), the electronic direct-response industry’s self-regulatory forum supervised by the National Advertising Review Council (NARC), announced that WalkFit, LLC (“WalkFit”), marketers of the WalkFit Orthotics, provided a reasonable basis for their advertising and will inform consumers about available shoe sizes in future advertising edits. The marketer’s advertising was reviewed pursuant to ERSP’s ongoing monitoring program.

ERSP asked WalkFit, LLC to provide substantiation for core claims (i.e., “Independent clinical study conducted by doctors over 90% got pain relief in their foot, knees, hips, and back…”; “Immediate help.“; “I have not had to go back to physical therapy.”) and to add a disclosure for diabetes patients to its 30- minute infomercial.

ERSP determined that WalkFit provided a reasonable basis for the core efficacy claims made during the infomercial. The company submitted a clinical study, which indicated that more than 90 percent of subjects received pain relief after use of the WalkFit insoles. ERSP had inquired about the claim “great for kids,” but was satisfied by WalkFit’s stated intent to provide information on available sizes at its call centers and in future editions of the infomercial. ERSP determined that testimonials included in the infomercial, which already contained disclosures, were supported by the study. Finally, ERSP was satisfied that the disclosure relating to diabetes, when displayed prominently on product packaging, adequately alerted consumers with this condition to seek a doctor’s approval before wear.

WalkFit, in response to the ERSP decision, announced it “is pleased that ERSP has concluded that the
…claims for WalkFit™ orthotics have been fully and properly substantiated… WalkFit is a strong
supporter of the ERSP process and appreciates ERSP’s thorough review and consideration of this program and of the substantiation data provided by WalkFit.”