Do Weight Loss Supplements Really Work? Now We Have the Answer
- Scientific research does not confirm the effectiveness of dietary supplements in weight loss, the obtained effects are negligible or short-lived
- Some of the preparations available on the market contain ingredients that are not in accordance with the label, including substances that are prohibited or hazardous to health.
- Experts recommend that instead of supplements, you choose proven weight loss methods based on lifestyle changes and a balanced diet.
The National Center for Nutrition Education reported that the number of overweight and obese people continues to grow, and weight control has become one of the greatest public health challenges.
Research shows that Poles most often look for weight loss products on the Internet .
It is estimated that by 2030, the value of the supplement market in the United States will triple.
Over 30% of Americans consider them essential for weight loss. In the Silesian region of Poland, nearly 70% of respondents have taken weight loss pills in the last three months .
Weight loss supplements are typically multi-ingredient preparations. The most commonly used substances include:
- chitosan,
- chrome,
- caffeine,
- carnitine,
- green tea extract,
- bitter orange (Citrus aurantium),
- Malabar tamarind (Garcinia cambogia).
As a meta-analysis of 111 randomized clinical trials published in 2023 shows, most supplements do not produce significant effects, and the results achieved are small.
When using chitosan, the weight loss was 1.7 kg greater than when using placebo, and 1.2 kg greater when using green tea extract.
Better results were achieved with psyllium (Plantago psyllium), with an average weight loss of 3.7 kg, but with longer use the difference decreased.
Data indicate that no single ingredient or combination of ingredients provides significant clinical benefits for weight loss . The American Diabetes Association recommends against using supplements for weight loss. In the US, 23% of products contained undeclared ingredients, and 80% contained ingredients not listed on the label.
Contaminants included sibutramine (a drug withdrawn in 2010 due to cardiovascular risks), drug analogues, and even amphetamine . In Italy, sibutramine was detected in 28% of weight-loss supplements, and in Poland, it was found in a preparation imported from China.
Experts are increasingly calling for supplements to be subject to excise tax, similarly to sweetened beverages or tobacco, in order to limit their popularity.
Weight-loss dietary supplements are a powerful segment of the market, and their misleading advertising is intended to create a belief in guaranteed effectiveness. This contradicts the results of scientific research, which does not confirm lasting effects on weight loss and fat reduction, as we read on the website of the National Center for Nutritional Education.
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