Are Calorie-Blocker Pills Really Effective?

Weight-loss claims exaggerate real evidence.

Anyone exposed to commercials on television, radio or the Internet has probably witnessed ads for diet products that claim to absorb fat or block calories in the digestive tract.

Many of these nonprescription supplements base their claims on a kernel of scientific fact, but the truth is that these claims are usually greatly exaggerated.

The active ingredients in many diet products can often be shown to absorb carbohydrates or fat in a test tube. But they usually don’t contain enough ingredient to cause a significant reduction in weight.

The same problem occurs with diet formulas that swell up in the gut to create a feeling of fullness — supposedly reducing the urge to overeat. While this sounds like a logical approach to lose weight, it ignores the simple fact that many overweight people don’t stop eating when their stomach signals that it is full. Even worse, if the diet aid decreases food absorption, someone may eat more to compensate.

When Australian researchers conducted a comprehensive review of nonprescription weight-loss products, they found that most products’ claims were misleading or unfounded.

An Australian newspaper listed the products that recent scientific studies showed didn’t work. These include: caffeine, capsaicin, L-carnitine, chitosan, chromium picolinate, ginkgo biloba, grapeseed extract, lecithin, horse chestnut, pectin, St. John’s wort and sweet clover.

The old saying “Buyer Beware” applies when dealing with quick weight-loss products.

The only true and lasting way to lose weight is through a well planned program developed by a medical professional.

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