Article: FEDS SAY DEVICES LEFT ABS WELL SHORT OF A SIX-PACK.(MAIN)

Byline: MEGAN GARVEY Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON -- It's long been the definition of ultimate physical fitness: perfect abs.

But in recent months, a chiseled gut has been dangled in front of even the slouchiest couch potatoes. An easy, no-pain, no-effort ``six-pack'' is just a credit-card purchase and an electrical outlet away -- or so promised the buff pitchmen and women hawking electronic abdominal belts on a steady stream of infomercials.

It sounded too good to be true. And it was, federal regulators said Wednesday.

They filed lawsuits in California and Nevada this week against the makers and distributors of three highly popular ...

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