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Yet, according to a large national survey, less than one-third of U.S. This is especially important for those who have medical conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and liver or heart disease. People who are considering using weight-loss supplements should talk with their health care provider to discuss these products' potential benefits and risks. So it is important to consider what is known-and not known-about each ingredient in any dietary supplement before using it. Many weight-loss supplements are costly, and some of these products’ ingredients can interact or interfere with certain medications. Government Accountability Office concluded that "little is known about whether weight loss supplements are effective, but some supplements have been associated with the potential for physical harm". In its report on dietary supplements for weight loss, the U.S. Common ingredients in these supplements include botanicals (herbs and other plant components), dietary fiber, caffeine, and minerals. Weight-loss products can contain dozens of ingredients, and some contain more than 90. Manufacturers market these products with various claims, including that these products reduce macronutrient absorption, appetite, body fat, and weight and increase metabolism and thermogenesis. ĭietary supplements promoted for weight loss encompass a wide variety of products and come in a variety of forms, including capsules, tablets, liquids, powders, and bars. Americans spend about $2.1 billion a year on weight-loss dietary supplements in pill form (e.g., tablets, capsules, and softgels), and one of the top 20 reasons why people take dietary supplements is to lose weight. adults have used a weight-loss dietary supplement at some point in their lives more women report use (21%) than men (10%).
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But because making diet and lifestyle changes can be difficult, many people turn to dietary supplements promoted for weight loss in the hope that these products will help them more easily achieve their weight-loss goals.Īpproximately 15% of U.S. Health experts agree that making lifestyle changes-including following a healthy dietary pattern, reducing caloric intake, and engaging in physical activity-is the basis for achieving long-term weight loss. Forty-five percent of Americans who are overweight and 67% of those with obesity are trying to lose weight. More than two-third of adults and almost one-third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or have obesity. This fact sheet provides information on weight-loss dietary supplements *, including summaries of research on the safety and efficacy of several of the most commonly used ingredients in these products. For a general overview of Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss, see our consumer fact sheet on Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss. This is a fact sheet intended for health professionals. Choosing a Sensible Approach to Weight Loss.Ephedra (Má Huáng), an Ingredient Banned from Dietary Supplements.Common Ingredients in Weight-Loss Dietary Supplements.Regulation of Weight-Loss Dietary Supplements.
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