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Many people resort to weight loss supplements when they want to shed some pounds of, assuming the pills to be safer and more natural than prescription drugs. In fact, they are not. A Consumer Reports poll establishes that the many people don’t know that weight loss supplements can be risky and ineffectual.
After surveying 3,000 Americans, specialists at Consumer Reports concluded on Tuesday that most of them don’t have accurate information about how weight loss supplements enter the market. This implies that they are not fully aware about how effective or safe the drugs are. Out of those polled very few individuals who took such pills got thinner or kept their desired weight.
Around 20% of the people who consumed diet supplements to get thinner were under the impression that the Food and Drug Administration tested the pills and, as such, it is safe to use them.
However, these supplements do not fall under the same regulations as professionally prescribed medications. Producers are not compelled to undertake thorough safety and adequacy tests before the pills are authorized. In fact, supplements fall under food guidelines being assumed secure until users’ reports indicate the contrary.
Approximately 20% of those questioned supposed that the supplements were more secure than regulated prescription medications on account of the fact that they have natural ingredients. The situation is actually rather opposite.
Recent investigations uncovered that numerous supplements encompass ingredients that have been prohibited due to health concerns. As per a particular study, two-thirds of diet supplements contained forbidden substances. What’s more, the supplements aren’t always without side effects. About 50% of consumers reported no less than one symptom, going from dry mouth to more genuine digestive problems like constipation or diarrhea, as well as increased heartbeat.
Regarding the actual weight loss process, the diet pills did not perform well either. 30% of the users did not lose a single pound and barely 9% of the respondents confirmed losing the desired weight and maintaining their new one.
At the same time, the supplements may not even be the reason why they lost weight in the first place. The data shows that 85% of the individuals who got thinner while on a supplement diet also changed their eating habits and started doing regular physical exercises.
This suggests that physicians’ advice is more sensible than anything else. All nutrition specialists say that if a person has truly decided to get in a better shape and lose weight, he or she should be aware that the ideal weight does not come in a pill but with sound eating habits and consistent physical activity.
Image Source: Progressive Health
