Do Weight Loss Supplements Work?
With so many overweight individuals in the world, it’s no wonder that many of them turn to weight loss supplements to speed along the progress. The question is, do weight loss supplements work? Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that very few of these weight loss supplements have undergone extensive testing to prove their effectiveness. Purchasing over-the-counter weight loss supplements or worse, buying them online can lead to worse problems than not losing those extra pounds. Before you head to the local drugstore for a magical solution to your weight problems, keep reading.
Most of us purchase weight loss supplements because we assume that if they weren’t safe, we couldn’t purchase them legally. The truth is that the great majority of weight loss supplements are not subject to the same standards and testing as prescription drugs and standard over-the-counter medications. The real harm of weight loss supplements is that the makers can make any claim of effectiveness they want, and often interpret studies without authorization from governmental agencies. Weight loss supplements are only removed from the shelves once proof surfaces confirming their danger.
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How Do Weight Loss Supplements Work?
The limited effectiveness of some weight loss supplements lies in their ability to mimic the ways in which the body burns fat and calories. However, these pills do just that, mimic the body, rather than produce any real weight loss. Many popular weight loss supplements make one or more of the following claims:
- Suppress your appetite
- Reduce body fat
- Absorb bad fats
- Speed up the metabolism
- Burn extra calories
Put simply, most supplements contain a combination of vitamins, herbs, botanicals, and minerals, which give you more energy and make you feel more alert. These items are found in many over-the-counter vitamin supplements. The additions found in many weight loss pills such as caffeine and laxatives are what causes the little weight loss some experience with these supplements.
Why They’re Ineffective
The simplest reason why weight loss pills don’t work is that they aren’t a healthy diet and regular exercise; the only guaranteed way to lose weight. If you decide to take weight loss supplements (and you shouldn’t), you will still have to eat better, decrease the amount of calories you consume, and engage in regular exercise. Since you have to do those things in order to lose weight anyway, the pills offer no real additional help.
The problem with many weight loss pills is that their long-term effects are unknown, and if you do find a supplement that helps you lose weight, you’ll have to keep taking it for continued weight loss. Supplements don’t require you to correct your unhealthy eating and exercise habits, so the only way to get the weight off and keep it off, is to keep taking the supplements.
Be Safe
Because such a great number of people are overweight, there will always be a market for weight loss pills. If you insist on taking supplements—which we do not recommend—make sure you read the ingredients carefully so that you know what you’re taking. Look up any ingredients with which you’re unfamiliar and discuss with your physician before beginning any weight loss regiment.
The safest option however, is to simply avoid the supplements altogether. Even if you find something that seems “all natural” or “ephedra-free”, the lack of regulation means there’s no way to be sure that what’s on the bottle, is what’s in the bottle. Rather than risking your health on unfounded claims, consider the tried and true method of a healthy diet and regular physical activity to reach your weight loss goal.