To the Editor: I would like to clarify several issues relating to the competing interests statement for my editorial in the 16 January issue of the Journal.1

In my statement, I declared that I have used several meal replacement products in clinical settings and that I am not employed by, and do not receive benefit from, any companies producing these products.

By way of further information, I have used Optifast (Novartis) and Dr MacLeod’s (Orfam) products in clinical work in the past. These were always sold at cost to patients, or patients were referred to a chemist, so there was no direct financial benefit to me. I currently use KicStart (Pharmacy Health Solutions) as part of the kit for “Professor Trim’s weight loss program for men”. I purchase these in bulk at wholesale prices from the manufacturer and include them as part of the total program (which is much more than just meal replacement).