Sketchy claims

No, it wasn't Tennessee leading the charge on the constitutionality of the health care mandate, but our state's attorney general did lead the charge -- against fat-burning sneakers.

In an increased effort of the Federal Trade Commission to address false or unfounded claims, a California sneaker company, Skechers U.S.A., Inc., will pay $40 million in a settlement in a case led by Tennessee and Ohio. This follows last year's FTC suit filed by Ohio against Reebok that resulted in a $25 million settlement.

Addressing claims that the $100 sneakers would increase "muscle activation" by up to "85 percent for posture-related muscles" and "71 percent" for one of the muscles in the buttocks, attorneys general from Tennessee and Ohio were the tip of the spear in the 42-state effort that marks the largest pool in history resulting from an advertising substantiation case.

Consumers who purchased the "rocker-bottomed" shoes may be eligible for a refund during an eight-month window. Jeff Hill, senior counsel with the Office of the Attorney General in Tennessee, remarked, "Consumers should receive approximately $20-$30 in restitution ..."

Skechers will pay an additional $5 million to the states.

While the sneaker makers are being chastised for their exaggerated claims, let's hope that consumers lace up whatever brand they have in their closets and commit to activity, not gimmicks, for health.

It's not the brand of shoe that burns the calories and exercises the muscles. It's the individual making the decision to, um, just do it!

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