"Lose 4 Inches in 30 Days Guaranteed!"—Infomercial for the AbTronic electric exercise belt.

Aren't those absurd ab-belt claims illegal? And if so, isn't the government doing anything about it?

Probably. And yes.

Just last week, the Federal Trade Commission, the agency charged with ensuring that ads aren't spouting outright lies, filed suit against various belt-makers for airing "false and deceptive" claims. The FTC isn't saying that the products are useless; it's just arguing that they don't deliver on their absurd promises.

The FDA, meanwhile, says that the belts are "medical devices," and thus must be judged as "safe and effective" by the agency before they can be sold. So far, one belt, the Slendertone Flex, has applied for and received the FDA's stamp of approval. (The makers of the Slendertone don't claim that it'll give you rock-hard abs. They only say that it "strengthens and tones your muscles.") As for the other belts, an FDA spokeswoman says they "are illegal, and under investigation."