Do Weight Loss Supplements Work?

Researchers Conclude That None Are Both Safe and Effective

"Burn Fat While You Sleep." "Lose 10 Pounds in 10 Days." We all know the ads are too good to be true, but Americans still spend billions each year on unregulated pills and potions promising weight loss.

While we may want to believe the hype, is there any scientific evidence to back it up? According to findings from a newly published analysis, the answer is a qualified no.

Two researchers from England's Universities of Exeter and Plymouth reviewed studies evaluating weight loss among people taking a dozen supplements commonly found in unregulated weight control preparations. They concluded that there was "little convincing evidence that any specific dietary supplement is effective in reducing body weight."

Study co-author Max H. Pittler, MD, would not go so far as to say that people are wasting their money when they buy unregulated diet drugs, but he did tell WebMD that there is "not much concrete evidence showing them to be effective."

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