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Weight Loss Supplements: Fact or Fiction?

-- By Becky Hand, Licensed & Registered Dietitian
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Whether browsing the Internet, surfing through 500 channels, or flipping through your favorite magazine (or tabloid), you’ll find them everywhere: weight loss supplements that offer quick and easy solutions to shedding unwanted pounds. Simply pop a pill, put on a patch, or tone up with the touch of a cream. Do these "cures" work, or are they more hype than help?

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular weight loss products, their claims, their risks…and why they’re NOT such a great idea.
 
Weight Loss Supplements
  • Bitter Orange, Citrus Aurantium, and Sour Orange:
    These products are concentrated extracts from the orange peel. They are often used in “ephedra-free” products, claiming that they increase metabolism, but tests involving people haven’t even been conducted! They contain the stimulant synephrine, which can cause hypertension and cardiovascular toxicity. Orange supplements can also interact with medication. Their risks are even greater when used with other stimulant-containing ingredients such as caffeine and decongestants. Individuals with heart disease, hypertension, and glaucoma should avoid these at all costs.
     
  • Chromium (Examples: Puritan’s Pride Chromium Picolinate, Vitamin World Naturally Inspired Yeast Free Chromium Picolinate, Nutrilite Trim Advantage):
    Claims that chromium increases weight loss and improves body composition have only been backed by one study, while all other studies failed to find any supporting evidence. There are two types of chromium: Trivalent (which the body requires and is considered safe in doses of 200 micrograms or less daily) and Hexavalent (which may cause stomach upsets, ulcers, convulsions, kidney and liver diseases, and death). Hexavalent chromium can be toxic and shouldn’t be used in supplements, but some do contain this dangerous form!
     
  • Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) (Examples: Vitamin World CLA, Nature Made CLA, Now Foods CLA):
    This product claims to promote leanness, but very few studies support this claim. While more research is needed, CLA is generally safe.
     
  • Ephedra/Ephedrine:
    Ephedra may aid weight loss by suppressing appetite, and research has proven its effectiveness when used with caffeine. However, ephedra causes high blood pressure, stroke, and serious heart problems, which is why the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra was prohibited in April 2004.
     
  • 7-Keto Dehydroepiandrosterone (7-keto DHEA):
    Preliminary research indicates that this product may decrease body weight and fat composition by increasing metabolism, but larger research studies are needed (see Ephedra to learn why testing is important).
     
  • Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) and Garcinia Cambogia:
    These products claim to suppress appetite and improve fat metabolism. While studies have shown mixed results, they are generally safe.
    Continued ›
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About The Author

Becky Hand Becky Hand
Becky is a registered and licensed dietitian with almost 20 years of experience. Through her company, An Ounce of Prevention, she makes nutrition principles practical, easy to apply and fun. See all of Becky's articles.

Member Comments

  • DELLMEL
    They put all these things out there to see how fast they can draw peoples to buy them. I don't like taking the pills the doctor give me. So I know what they have out there forget it. - 5/3/2013 4:29:46 PM
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  • CJ2BHEALTHY
    I enjoyed reading this! Please do a follow up with all the new ones you see out there :) - 5/3/2013 8:53:05 AM
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  • PATTISWIMMER
    Becky you really do a great job on researching these types of articles.. - 3/20/2013 9:26:42 PM
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  • MINDY681
    Has anyone lost weight on SENSA a diet product out there - 3/14/2013 10:23:41 AM
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  • MSANITAL
    I am very glad I read this, I am not a huge believer in the "diet pills" but I do take some supplements. and I am glad that the one I take they said they did fot find to be hurtful
    I have take CLA I think it has helped I still work out and eat right which is the number one thing to help with weight loss
    - 9/26/2012 2:38:36 PM
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  • ZAPITA22
    I agree these remedies are misleading and just a tactic to get money (as is most any other product on tv) However to say that any one of them is false, misleading and deceptive simply because it lacks scientific substantiation is a almost as bad as the vendors saying it works without the scientific substantiation. It would be better said that substantial research has not been made to determine the extent of the effects of the product.

    Every prescribed medication, antibiotic, immunization or any other treatment, including Cancer treatments, started out without scientific substantiation yet they were not false and continue to be used until they are proven otherwise. (Yes i know there are others out there that do not trust those remedies either)

    Let me just state, I think it is dangerous to to take anything without proper research. And I don't endorse any of these product or believe that they work. - 7/28/2012 11:24:42 AM
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  • FANCY941
    ive been on Phentermine 37.5 for just over a month now and have not had any problems. in fact i lost 8lbs during that month . while i take this medicine as an apetite suppressant i am learning to pay attention to when im full and watch my caloric intake. i think its very helpful! i love it! - 5/11/2012 9:04:23 PM
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  • BLUEGREEN73
    i just started a weight loss pill to help me control my hunger(s) in the evening is my hardest part. These pills seem to work for me so far. i agree with everyone, Just watch your calories,and the amount you eat, Which is hard for me so i hope i get ALOT of support here because i need it. Thank-You - 4/16/2012 9:10:19 AM
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  • SEPTLEFTY
    Ive yet to find anything i comfortable with. - 1/18/2012 9:54:05 AM
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  • SABLE45
    Bubba Smith-the retired football player and actor from those "Police Academy" movies died as a result of ingesting too many diet pills at once. He was found in his home. A terrible cost to pay just to lose weight.

    I've been on that supplement roller coaster and have experienced many of the side effects. I'm starting over this year; hopefully to a healthier new me. - 1/13/2012 12:35:04 PM
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  • JULIA75
    Isn't it amazing what we will fork out for diet-pills? We put more effort into earning that money than we'd have to spend on the work-out that would get us the same effect. And most of the time the exercise isn't half as dreary as we think, it's just getting up and getting out our exercise stuff that's so hard to do.

    Thanks for the article! I doubt I'd ever really buy diet pills because there are a hundred things I'd rather spend my money on. But the ads _are_ tempting (well, a lot of experts are paid good money to make them so) and it's good to be reminded that it's all a hoax. - 1/12/2012 5:56:52 AM
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  • GSCHWAB1
    It would be nice to see some research on Qivana. Thirty-two years of scientific research for re-setting your metabolism can't be all bad and all natural too! - 1/11/2012 1:19:25 PM
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  • MELAMA
    I've tried the majority of these "miracles", and am now back to what I know works...calorie counting and exercise! Changes for a lifetime. - 1/11/2012 10:04:37 AM
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  • SALTYCHOCOLATE
    It is truly sad that there is so much crap out there. And it's sadder that people buy the stuff. As was written in the SP article, many of these so-called "supplements" are dangerous.

    And Valentine_13, I loved your comment about HCG, it's a crock. When I first heard of it I was floored that anyone would actually do this diet. Sad, very sad. - 1/11/2012 9:25:27 AM
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  • JENNROSE42
    What a great article to help everyone understand the many false claims about these products. - 1/11/2012 7:38:32 AM
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