Can Dietary Supplements Help With Weight Loss? by Stacey Pence, MPH, RD, LD (www.wexnermedical.osu.edu)

Can dietary supplements help with weight loss? Before investing your time and money in these products, it’s important to understand that no supplement to date can erase poor dietary choices or lack of physical activity. When my patients ask me about supplements for weight loss, I explain that there’s no good substitute for portion control and exercise. Any effects that supplements have on the amount of calories you burn or the way you metabolize fat are minimal and most don’t have enough reliable scientific evidence to prove their effectiveness.  

Here, I’ve reviewed six of the most commonly used supplements, how they work, if they’re effective and possible side effects of each. As with all supplements, there are potential drug nutrient interactions. Before taking any dietary or herbal supplement, talk to your doctor and registered dietitian.

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