Weight-loss treatment rash leads to big claim

A woman who spent 1.6 million yuan (US$258,000) on weight-loss treatments sued the company after discovering she was allergic to its lotions.

The Shanghai woman, surnamed Chen, signed up for weight-loss programs with the London Weight Management Co in March 2011, the Pudong New Area People's Court heard.

Treatments typically include exercise classes and massages, during which lotions are applied.

Chen told the court that after staff applied an unlabeled lotion in 2012, she broke out in an itchy rash, the Youth Daily reported.

And she said the company did not take any action after she complained.

In February, Chen asked London Weight Management to terminate the contract and refund her money.

She claimed staff said that after services she'd used had been deducted she would receive 1.02 million yuan.

But after applying for this refund, Chen was told that she could only get 300,000 yuan.

Her lawyers said products London Weight Management Co claimed were imported could not be found on relevant websites.

Chen accused the company of fraud and demanded compensation and a refund totaling 3.38 million yuan.

London Weight Management's lawyer said the company never said its products were imported and that Chen spent more of her fees than claimed.

Senior London Weight Management officials are said to have gone overseas, the newspaper reported.

No verdict was announced.