Weight Loss Supplement: Too Good to Be True?
The truth about weight Loss Supplement
Manufacturing companies of diet supplement market their products on YouTube, retail chains such as Costco and GNC, news websites, television, the Internet, etc. Some of these advertisements are deceptive scams and unfair advertisements that mislead the public. For Example, there are too many advertisements for weight loss supplements on television, social media, etc. Are these products truly working, effective, and safe? The answer is NO. After digging deeper and searching for evidence that shows the effectiveness of weight loss supplements, such as Sensa, Hydroxycut, Best Share Green Coffee, and more, I found some sources that demonstrate these products are ineffective and may cause harm. Also, these manufacturing companies use deceptive advertising and provide inaccurate information to increase their sales and profits.
The U.S Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Roles:
The mission of the FTC is to protect customers by preventing misleading and unfair commercial activities, as well as the mission of the FDA is to protect public health by ensuring the safety and efficacy of human drugs, food supply, and cosmetics. The FDA has the authority to ban the sale of these products due to safety concerns. Here are some examples of action taken by the FTC and FDA:
- In 2004, the FTC issued a press report on its website stating that Sensa powder and three other weight-loss product marketers (L’Occitane cream, HCG Diet Direct drops, and Colon Cleanse) have settled charges brought against them by the FTC due to deceptive advertisement indicating true weight loss from these products. The product commercials claimed customers would lose weight without dieting or modifying their exercise routines. They also made false and unsupported claims that their products are FDA-approved and scientifically proven (Staff & Nguyen, 2021).
- The FDA issued a warning in May 2009 in response to 23 incidents of Hydroxycut-related diseases, one of which resulted in death (Carol, 2013).
The FDA recommends that customers don’t purchase or use Best Shar Green Coffee: Brazilian Slimming Coffee. This weight loss product was advertised and sold on multiple websites; however, it contained a controlled substance, which was banned from the market in October 2010 for safety purposes (Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, 2015).
Why do people purchase and use weight loss supplements?
There are three main reasons people purchase and use these products:
- Obesity is a well-known issue in America and losing weight can be difficult. The frustration and struggle with being unable to see rapid results via special diets and physical activity lead them to use weight loss supplements.
- Remarkable advertising portrays these products as a “magic bullet” for losing weight while emphasizing that they include natural ingredients, giving a false sense of security, that these products are safe and effective.
- These products are also available over the counter and are easier to obtain without requiring a prescription.
Can weight loss supplements be harmful?
There is no evidence demonstrating the quality, safety, and effectiveness of weight loss supplements. Some of these products can cause negative effects and various risk factors, such as a wide range of indications of muscle weakness, muscle pain, and dark urine, which in turn can lead to kidney failure, swelling of the limbs, and even death. Many weight loss supplement manufacturers frequently advertise their products as promoting weight loss as well as bodybuilding while also stating they are made from natural ingredients, however, fail to mention other hidden chemical components and substances that might be dangerous. According to Saper et al.’s (2004) randomized controlled trial studies investigated some weight loss supplement products and found that such compounds used in making these products may be harmful and cause adverse events, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, etc. The high amounts of caffeine in dietary supplements can result in muscles cells breakdown.
According to the Military Medicine journal article, three cases of U.S. army soldiers who used the weight loss supplement brand Hydroxycut experienced signs of muscle cell breakdown due to the high unspecified amount of caffeine in the product ingredients (Carol, 2013).
Recommendation about Weight- Loss Supplements:
- Before beginning to utilize dietary supplements, discuss them with your doctor.
- Customers should use caution when attempting to purchase any of these products, particularly those that have not been approved by the FDA and do not provide complete ingredient information.
- Do not be deceived by commercials that provide misleading information to attract consumers seeking rapid solutions which can be unobtainable.
- Be aware that in order for a dietary supplement to be safe for public usage, it needs to obtain two acceptable and well-controlled human clinical studies to support its results.
In conclusion, there is no weight-loss supplement product that meets the criteria of high-standard quality, safety, or effectiveness. Some contain hidden substances and high caffeine that can possibly cause serious health risks. Many of these products have not been approved by the FDA and have been reported to the FTC.
References:
Carol, M. L. (2013). Hydroxycut Weight Loss Dietary Supplements: A Contributing Factor in the Development of Exertional Rhabdomyolysis in Three U.S. Army Soldiers. Military Medicine, 178(9), e1039–e1042. https://doi.org/10.7205/milmed-d-13-00133
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. (2015, October 23). Public Notification: Best Share Green Coffee: Brazilian Slimming Coffee Contains Hidden Drug Ingredient. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud/public-notification-best-share-green-coffee-brazilian-slimming-coffee-contains-hidden-drug
Saper, R. B., Eisenberg, D. M., & Phillips, R. S. (2004, November 1). Common dietary supplements for weight loss. American Family Physician. Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2004/1101/p1731.html
Staff, the P. N. O., & Gaynor, A. (2021, September 18). Sensa and three other marketers of fad weight-loss products settle FTC charges in crackdown on deceptive advertising. Federal Trade Commission. Retrieved February 11, 2023, from https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2014/01/sensa-three-other-marketers-fad-weight-loss-products-settle-ftc-charges-crackdown-deceptive
Hydroxycut. (2022, January 19). Hydroxycut Before and After 2022 – Keilan [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc_cbbjVzHI
Lose weight. (2013, December 17). Sensa Weight Loss System Commercial [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy2sHt4K2rk