Study: Weight Loss Supplements Don’t Work

Weight loss supplements are excellent for people who want lose money, but not so good for those who want to lose weight. That’s the verdict of a study conducted at Oregon State University, where researchers reviewed the evidence surrounding hundreds of weight loss supplements. An Oregon State news release reports that the scientists found no evidence that any single product results in significant weight loss – and many have detrimental health benefits. The study, published in in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, did find that a few products, including green tea, fiber and low-fat dairy supplements, can have a modest weight loss benefit of 3-4 pounds (2 kilos), but only when they are part of a reduced calorie diet. The researchers looked products that block absorption of fat or carbohydrates, stimulants such as caffeine or ephedra that increase metabolism, products such as conjugated linoleic acid that claim to change the body composition by decreasing fat, and appetite suppressants such as soluble fibers. Many had no randomized clinical trials examining their effectiveness, and most of the research studies did not include exercise. Most of the products showed less than a two-pound weight loss benefit compared to the placebo groups. The most impressive number in the OSU release?  2.4 billion, the number of dollars Americans spend each year on weight loss products. Read more from Oregon State University.