The American Council on Exercise, or ACE, points out that Americans appear to be "married" to the idea that there's a magical ingredient or combination of ingredients that make weight loss faster and easier. This begs the question of which over-the-counter weight loss pills actually work. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of these check-out counter cures aren't supported by science. When you buy over-the-counter weight loss pills, you pay your money and take your chances -- and sometimes the outcome can be hazardous to your health.
Supplements and Medications
Over-the-counter weight loss pills are dietary supplements, and these are very different than prescription medications doctors sometimes recommend for obese patients. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, manufacturers of dietary supplements don't need pre-market approval before they put a "weight-loss pill" on the shelves. The manufacturer bears the responsibility for ensuring the product's safety. Weight-loss medications, on the other hand, must go through the FDA approval process before they are offered to the public; manufacturers must research the effects of the medication rigorously, as well as conduct human clinical trials to prove that the drug is safe and effective.
Options
Green tea, chitosan, bitter orange, hoodia, guar gum and conjugated linoleic acid are some of the ingredients in over-the-counter weight loss pills, according to MayoClinic.com. The problem with all of these ingredients and others is that they fall under the general category of weight loss aids that lack sufficient evidence to prove they help you lose weight. Some people take vitamin B-12 supplements, believing that megadoses of this vitamin will speed up their metabolism; however, the Office of Dietary Supplements indicates that unless you have a deficiency, you'll get no benefits from vitamin B-12. Chromium picolinate is also touted as a way to give you a leaner, firmer body -- but again, there's no evidence to support these claims.
FDA Approved
One over-the-counter weight loss pill might actually work for weight loss -- orlistat, sold under the trade name Alli. Orlistat is also available by prescription; Alli is simply a less potent variety of the medication, and it's approved by the FDA for weight loss. The drug works by preventing your body from absorbing some of the dietary fat you consume in your meals. You get the best results if you curb fat intake, reduce calories and exercise. According to Donald Hensrud,M.D., you might expect to lose 3 to 5 more pounds a year taking Alli than you would if you relied on diet and exercise alone.
Avoid Weight Loss Scams
If an over-the-counter diet pill makes weight loss sound far too easy, this is your cue to step away. The Federal Trade Commission takes action against marketers of diet aids that make impossible claims about the product. Be on guard if a weight loss pill states you'll shed pounds without diet or exercise. Be wary of any product that assures you you'll lose a pound a day or more. Some weight loss pill manufacturers only exist to take your money; in March 2009, the FTC took action against two online supplement manufacturers who lured consumers with the promise of a free trial. The consumers had to enter their credit or debit card number to receive the offer and were subsequently charged for a full shipment of the product every month.
References
- American Council on Exercise: Supplements -- Too Much of a Good Thing?
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Overview of Dietary Supplements; October 2009
- Federal Trade Commission: FTC Targets Weight-Loss Marketers' Allegedly Bogus 'Free' Sample Offers; February 2009
- MayoClinic.com: Over-the-Counter Weight-loss Pills -- Do They Work?; February 2010
- Federal Trade Commission: Combatting Deceptive Advertising; April 2003
- Weight-control Information Network: Prescription Medications for the Treatment of Obesity; December 2010
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