Shocker! Weight Loss Supplements Don't Work

Researchers conducted two studies in Britain and Germany on the efficacy of weight-loss supplements, and shockingly their results show the pills (which promise to dissolve fat, suppress appetite and boost metabolism) don't work. In fact, researchers say the supplements are no better than fake pills.

Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School at the universities of Exeter and Plymouth reviewed a number of studies into the effectiveness of nine supplements and found no evidence they work.
The UK team reviewed existing data on guar gum, bitter orange, calcium, glucomannan (a dietary fibre), chitosan (listed as a fat absorber), chromium picolinate (sometimes sold as an appetite suppressant) and green tea.
They wrote: "The findings from systematic reviews fail to provide sufficient evidence that any food supplement can be recommended for reducing body weight.
"A wide range of herbal and non-herbal food supplements is currently being promoted for weight loss.
"While mainstream drugs for body weight reduction must demonstrate efficacy before receiving a licence, food supplements do not need to meet this requirement.
"Few food supplements have therefore been submitted to clinical trials, and many healthcare professionals feel uncertain about their therapeutic value."
Meanwhile, experts at the University of Gottingen in Germany carried out an eight-week trial on nine common weight loss supplements bought over the counter.
These included cabbage powder, bean concentrate, some plant extracts and a fibre formulation.
A total of 189 overweight people were split into 10 groups, with some given the weight-loss supplements.
While those on the supplements did lose weight, they did not lose any more than people taking a fake pill.
Dr Thomas Ellrott said: "No product was found to be better than the fake pills.”
Victoria Taylor, senior heart health dietician at the British Heart Foundation, said: "There are no quick fixes when it comes to weight loss.
"To reduce weight we need to be using up more energy than we are taking in and to achieve this we have to make changes to what we eat and how much activity we do.
"A huge amount of money is spent on the dieting industry, but it's often money down the drain.
"Small, sustainable changes to diet and physical activity are likely to be the most effective approach to keeping weight off in the long term - and it needn't cost you a penny."