How Effective Are Diet Pills?

Do you know as little about the safety and effectiveness of weight-loss supplements as too many people?

Happy New Year, Diet Hopefuls!

It’s January 1st, your weight loss resolutions should still be intact.

Unfortunately, if you thought you’ll get aid from friendly little supplement helpers, I already have to hand you a little sucker punch.

But fret not, there’s hope and it doesn’t cost you anything!

What People Believe About Diet Supplements

The punch comes from a survey watchdog organisation Consumer Reports conducted among 3,000 Americans, asking them what they thought about diet supplements:

• 20% of those who used supplements to lose weight thought they were tested and approved by the FDA
• 25% believed that supplements were safer than over-the-counter drugs because they’re “natural”
• 20% believed they were even safer than prescription medications

This bears little resemblance to reality. Due to industry-friendly legislation, the FDA has very little say in what is sold as supplement. It can only get active after adverse effects surface. A recent study found that of 27 supplements the FDA recalled due to safety issues, half were still on the market.

2010 US percentage of people who are obese (a BMI higher than 30)

In CR’s survey, 50%  of respondents experienced at least one side effect (rapid heart rate, jitteriness, diarrhea etc.). And looking over the supplement news I covered in 2014, I can add this:

• In April a 25 year old woman dies two hours after taking caffeine-based diet pills
• In May scientists find undeclared synthetic stimulants in a “fatburner”
• In June a teenager dies from using a caffeine powder
• In December news report a woman who lethally overdosed a raspberry supplement

But Do They Work?

But what if you make it through alive? Did those weight loss pills, potions and powders at least do what they were supposed to? According to the survey:

• Only 9% of weight loss supplement users reached and kept their target weight
• About 33% lost a little a weight
• Another 33% lost no weight at all
• 85% of those who did lose weight also reported exercising and dieting

Less than 1 in 10 people benefited from the money they spent on weight loss pills. And of those, 9 in 10 exercised and made changes to their lifestyle habits. Could they have saved the money and still lost weight?

There’s Hope And It’s Free!

Yes, because it takes nothing special to lose weight. All you need is a plan. I lost 33 lbs buying nothing, I just followed what I describe in this video:

For the long version of this explanation, click here. And if you want to combine your weight loss with fitness (you can do at home) have a look at this home workout plan.

Picture courtesy of Alan Levine, graphic courtesy of the CDC.