Consumer advocates win refund for woman who paid €1,000 for 'lose weight lying down' diet

The case was filed in Linz, where the woman lives and where the franchise is based. After the AK's lawsuit, the company paid back the €1,000. The chamber did not disclose the name of the provider, citing ongoing consumer protection work.

AK warning on dubious offers

Consumer advocates at the AK said the ruling should serve as a warning to other providers of unproven weight-loss programmes. They urged consumers who feel misled by similar offers to contact the chamber before paying, so that cases can be reviewed and, where appropriate, pursued in court.

The AK OÖ regularly publishes warnings about dubious health and wellness products. In a related advisory, the chamber cautioned against fake air-conditioning devices and other products making unverifiable performance claims, saying consumers should rely on independent testing rather than advertising.

The 'Abnehmen im Liegen' case is one of several recent actions by Austrian consumer protection bodies targeting franchise operators in the wellness sector. The AK said it would continue to monitor the market and pursue refunds where contractual promises could not be substantiated.

Advice for consumers

The chamber did not provide details on the specific contractual terms that were breached, nor on the duration of the programme the woman had signed up for. It said only that the refund had been obtained in full and that the case was now closed.

Consumer protection experts note that weight-loss franchises marketed through social media and local advertising have proliferated in Austria in recent years. The AK said it had received multiple complaints about similar offers and was reviewing whether further legal steps were warranted.

The AK OÖ advised consumers to keep all receipts and written communications when signing up for paid diet or wellness programmes, so that any future claim for a refund can be documented. The chamber also recommended checking whether a provider is registered with the relevant trade authority before making a payment.

The refund was confirmed by the AK on 10 July 2026. The chamber said it would not comment further on the individual case but would continue to publicise its warnings about dubious weight-loss offers.