Microsoft Advertising disapproved our weight loss clinic's ads

What the policy covers

Microsoft's weight loss section applies to "advertisements promoting products, services, or programs intended to support weight reduction and overall health improvement", including:

• "Dietary supplements (e.g., pills, powders, drinks that claim to aid weight loss)"
• "Meal replacements (e.g., shakes, bars, pre-packaged meals)"
• "Diet and nutrition plans (e.g., structured eating programs)"
• "Behavioral therapy (e.g., counseling services addressing eating habits)"
• "Medical interventions (e.g., prescription medications, bariatric surgery)"

What Microsoft prohibits

"The following content is strictly prohibited across all ads. This list is non-exhaustive and subject to updates:"

• "Claims that users can lose weight without adopting a healthy lifestyle."
• "Suggestions that weight loss results are guaranteed, universal, or permanent."
• "References to specific amounts or rates of weight loss within a defined timeframe."
• "Assertions of substantial weight loss regardless of diet or behavior."
• "Content that promotes unhealthy eating habits or encourages negative body image or self-perception."
• "Misleading or manipulated "before and after" imagery that projects unrealistic outcomes."
• "Ads must not imply success without lifestyle changes or suggest that failure is impossible."

What every weight loss ad must do

Microsoft's additional requirements are short: "Ads must target 18+ audiences." and "Ads must encourage users to consult a healthcare professional before beginning any intensive program." For a medical weight loss clinic, the second one is easy to meet and easy to forget. A line inviting patients to start with a consultation with a licensed clinician does the job.

Claims need proof. Microsoft's misleading content policy says "If an ad makes a claim", "it must provide substantiation of the claim either in the ad or at the ad destination." It also names "kill stomach fat" among the clickbait phrases it prohibits.

Prescription programs need preapproval too

If the program includes prescription medication, the weight loss rules are only half of it. "Online pharmacies, telemedicine providers that sell prescription drugs, and prescription drug manufacturers must be preapproved in order to serve ads on the Microsoft Advertising network." Read Microsoft Advertising disapproved our telehealth or pharmacy ads for the preapproval form and the US accreditation rules.

How to fix and resubmit

1. Under the Delivery column in Ads & extensions, hover over each Disapproved or Approved Limited status to see the reason.
2. Remove amounts, timeframes, guarantees and effortless framing from the ads, and swap exaggerated before-and-after images for real program imagery.
3. Add a consult-a-professional line, and restrict every campaign to 18+ audiences.
4. Make sure any claim that remains is substantiated in the ad or on the landing page.
5. Edit and select Save. "We will perform a new editorial review on the updated ad."
6. If you believe an ad already complies, choose "Request an exception for this ad/keyword" and explain why. Microsoft says "most reviews are completed within 48 hours."

Talk to Curve

Microsoft search traffic can be a strong source of weight loss patients once the ads are approved, and Curve helps you prove it. Curve's team sets up HIPAA-compliant, server-side conversions to Microsoft Advertising and your other platforms, with PHI-like patterns detected before data reaches an ad platform, neutral event names, identifiers SHA-256 hashed to each platform's requirements, and attribution kept through your booking tool. It is typically live in about a week, with a BAA signed on every plan. Book a call with Curve.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Microsoft Advertising Policies: Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Ad Policy
• Microsoft Advertising Policies: Information Integrity and Misleading Content
• Microsoft Advertising Help: Fix a Disapproved or Approved Limited status
• Microsoft Advertising Help: How do I challenge a disapproval?

Last verified September 28, 2026

Related pages

• Microsoft Ads Disapproved Telehealth Ads? Preapproval GuideMicrosoft Advertising disapproved your telehealth ads? Why prescription services need preapproval, the US accreditation rules, and how to request an exception.
• Google Ads Unreliable Claims: Weight Loss Ad Fix GuideGoogle flagged your weight loss or clinic ads for Unreliable claims? What counts, why testimonials need a disclaimer, and how to rewrite and resubmit.
• TikTok Rejected Your Weight Loss Ad? A Clinic Fix GuideTikTok rejected your weight loss or GLP-1 ad? What the Weight Management and Body Image policy bans, the US rules for clinics, and how to fix and appeal.
• Meta Rejected My Ad Under the Health and Wellness PolicyWhat Meta's Health and wellness ad standard bans, what it allows for 18+ audiences, and when to edit a rejected ad or request a review instead.
• Pinterest Disapproved Your Weight Loss or GLP-1 Ad?Pinterest disapproved your weight loss, GLP-1 or telehealth ad? What its rules allow, the prior permission prescription ads need, and how to appeal.