The FTC said in a press release about the settlement "it's virtually impossible to make money selling Herbalife products." The lawsuit alleged that Herbalife deceived consumers into believing they could earn substantial income from the business opportunity or big money from the retail sale of the company's products.

They may contribute to weight loss, especially in the short term: Studies show that meal replacement shakes may help with weight loss when used for up to 1 year. Research suggests that they may be more effective for short-term weight loss than traditional low calorie diets ( 5 , 6 ).

Remember that Herbalife products are not realistic as a long-term solution to weight loss. Herbalife products are highly processed, and lots of nutrients may be lost in a bid for weight loss, so an extended use of the products may lead to health complications like constipation.

According to one study, overweight people who replace two meals a day with an Herbalife Formula 1 Nutritional Shake Mix as part of a healthy lifestyle can generally expect to lose between . 5 to 1 pound a week.