Truth About Weight Loss Supplements

If you're trying to lose weight the old-fashioned way, you may be tempted to buy an over-the-counter weight loss supplement for speedier results. A multitude of weight loss supplements are available at nearby stores and on the Internet, but they don't all necessarily work and they aren't all safe, warns MayoClinic.com. Weigh your options before you buy.

Safety Standards

Weight loss supplement manufacturers are held to different standards than most drug product manufacturers, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. Although supplement manufacturers are responsible for assessing the safety of their products, they aren't required to prove to the FDA that their products are effective or safe before bottles go onto store shelves. However, manufacturers of dietary supplements are obligated to track, investigate and tell the FDA about any reports regarding serious negative effects. Also, once a weight loss supplement is marketed, the FDA can restrict its use or ban it from being sold if it can prove that the supplement is unsafe. For example, the FDA has already banned the weight loss supplements Ephedra and Country Mallow.

Level of Effectiveness

As of 2010, the only weight loss supplement deemed effective in helping consumers lose weight is Alli, an FDA-approved lower dose version of the prescription weight loss medication Orlistat, according to MayoClinic.com. The supplement conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, may help in weight loss. But, according to MayoClinic.com, the supplement guar gum may be ineffective and not enough evidence has been collected to obtain a rating for the supplements bitter orange, green tea extract, Hoodia, Chitosan and Chromium.

Function

Weight loss supplements don't all work in the same way. Supplements such as bitter orange and chromium, for example, are thought to work by increasing the amount of energy your body expends, thereby increasing the amount of calories you burn, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Others, such as CLA and green tea extract, are thought to work by increasing your feelings of fullness, thereby reducing your desire to eat more. Supplements such as chitosan may aid in weight loss by blocking how much dietary fat your body can absorb, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Some supplements may contain multiple ingredients that perform more than one of the aforementioned functions in addition to other functions, such as helping you build more muscle.

Getting Help

Discuss the use of weight loss supplements with your primary care physician, particularly if you already have a health condition or if you are taking prescription medications, warns MayoClinic.com. If you don't already have a health problem, checking in with your physician will at least help him monitor your health and progress. If you do have a health problem or if you take medication, your doctor will advise you about any potential adverse side effects of adding extra pills to your current condition or pill regimen, says MayoClinic.com.

Considerations

Even the most effective weight loss supplement won't solve all your weight problems. You will also need to burn more calories than you consume by getting exercise and eating a well-balanced diet. While you may see initial weight loss with pills alone, MayoClinic.com warns that the results will eventually even out and you risk becoming dependent on them to maintain that weight loss.