We do not know of all illegal weight-loss products on the market, and it is likely that other illegal and hazardous weight-loss products are in circulation; any such products do not appear on the below list of illegal weight-loss products. You can see an image of most of the products on the list.

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Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description.

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Nonprescription Products for Weight Loss. Skip Navigation. Overview The only over-the-counter weight-loss product approved by the U.

Risks of taking over-the-counter weight-loss products The risks of over-the-counter OTC weight-loss products depend on which one you take. Orlistat Alli can cause changes in bowel habits. These changes may include having oily or fatty stool and being unable to control bowel movements.

Other OTC products that claim to help with weight loss haven't been proven to be safe or effective and may be harmful. They may cause heart problems, stroke, kidney problems, cancer, or sexual problems. And they may interact with other medicines you might be taking. Related Information Obesity Weight Management.

Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

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Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. The Health Encyclopedia contains general health information.

Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description. For recommended treatments, please consult with your health care provider.

Want to stay signed on? We are unable to switch you to this area of care. Nonprescription Products for Weight Loss. Scammers place false stories online through fake news websites, blogs, banner ads, and social media to sell their weight loss products. The stories are false.

You might have seen ads for electronic muscle stimulators claiming they will help you lose weight, or get rock-hard abs. Not all gym contracts are the same, so before you commit, read the contract and confirm that it includes everything the salesperson promised.

Do you get a refund if you cancel? You also can look for reviews online from other clients to help you decide if you want to join that particular gym. Home exercise equipment can be a great way to shape up — but only if you use it regularly. Some exercise equipment ads promise you can shape up and lose weight quickly and without much effort.

The truth is that to get the benefits of exercise, you have to do the work. And find out the real cost of the equipment. Although microbes are found throughout the human body, the vast majority inhabit the colon.

The gut microbiota play an important role in nutrient and energy extraction from food. Research in mice suggests that the gut microbiota affect not only use of energy from the diet but also energy expenditure and storage within the host [ ]. Whether these effects translate to humans is unknown.

However, manipulating the gut microbiota has been proposed as a method to prevent or treat obesity in humans, and probiotics might provide a way to accomplish this. Probiotics are in foods, such as some yogurts, as well as dietary supplements.

The many different genera of probiotics include Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Bifidobacterium, which all have widely varying effects in the body [ , ]. Much of the research on probiotics and its influence on the gut microbiota and obesity has been in mice, and the results have been promising.

For example, probiotic supplementation reduced body weight gain and fat accumulation in obese mice fed a high-fat diet [ ]. In humans, however, results of clinical trials that assessed the impact of probiotics on obesity-related endpoints have been inconsistent. In another randomized clinical trial, daily supplementation with 3.

However, among the 77 female participants, the Lactobacillus supplementation did significantly reduce body weight after 12 weeks loss of 1. Another recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials in individuals with overweight or obesity found that supplementation with various doses and strains of probiotics for 3 to 12 weeks resulted in larger reductions in body weight by 0.

However, these effects were small and of questionable clinical significance. The most recent systematic review and meta-analysis, which included 19 randomized trials in 1, participants, found that supplementation with probiotics or synbiotics products containing both probiotic organisms and prebiotic sugars, which microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract use as metabolic fuel reduced waist circumference slightly by 0.

The findings from another meta-analysis of 14 trials in adults, 5 trials in children, and 12 trials in 1, infants suggested that probiotics promote an average loss of 0. Taken together, these results indicate that the effects of probiotics on body weight and obesity might depend on several factors, including the probiotic strain, dose, and duration as well as certain characteristics of the user, including age, sex, and baseline body weight.

Additional research is needed to understand the potential effects of probiotics on body fat, body weight, and obesity in humans. Many probiotic strains derive from species with a long history of safe use in foods or from microorganisms that colonize healthy gastrointestinal tracts.

For these reasons, the common probiotic species—such as Lactobacillus species acidophilus, casei, fermentum, gasseri, johnsonii, paracasei, plantarum, rhamnosus, and salivarius and Bifidobacterium species adolescentis, animalis, bifidum, breve, and longum —are unlikely to cause harm [ ].

Side effects of probiotics are usually minor and consist of self-limited gastrointestinal symptoms, such as gas. In a few cases, mainly involving individuals who were severely ill or immunocompromised, the use of probiotics has been linked to bacteremia, fungemia fungi in the blood , or infections that result in severe illness [ , ].

For individuals with compromised immune function or other serious underlying diseases, the World Gastroenterology Organisation advises restricting probiotic use to the strains and indications that have proven efficacy [ ]. Pyruvate is a three-carbon compound that is generated in the body through glycolysis [ ].

Pyruvate is also available as a dietary supplement, frequently in the form of calcium pyruvate. Researchers have suggested that pyruvate enhances exercise performance and reduces body weight and body fat, possibly by increasing lipolysis and energy expenditure [ 6 , , ].

Only a few studies have examined the effects of pyruvate supplementation in humans. Although some of these studies suggest that pyruvate decreases body weight and body fat, others do not. At the end of the trial, the pyruvate group had significant decreases in body weight mean loss of 1.

In the placebo group, these measurements did not change significantly compared to baseline. However, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 23 women who were overweight mean BMI The authors of a systematic review and meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials in a total of participants concluded that 5—30 g pyruvate for 3—6 weeks reduces body weight by a mean of 0.

However, the authors noted that the methodological quality of all trials is weak, preventing them from drawing firm conclusions. The safety of pyruvate has not been rigorously studied. Pyruvate might also increase LDL levels and decrease HDL levels [ , ].

Additional research is needed to better understand the safety and possible side effects of this compound. Raspberry ketone is the primary aroma compound found in red raspberries Rubus idaeus , and it is added to some foods as a flavoring agent [ 16 , ].

In vitro and animal studies suggest that raspberry ketone might help prevent weight gain by increasing fatty acid oxidation, suppressing lipid accumulation, and inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity [ 16 ].

Although it has been touted on the Internet and national television as an effective way to burn fat, little evidence exists to support this claim.

In mice fed a high-fat diet, raspberry ketone supplementation reduced food intake and body weight compared to the same diet without raspberry ketone [ ]. Only one randomized controlled trial has examined the effects of a dietary supplement containing raspberry ketone on weight loss.

This product contained 2, mg of a proprietary blend of raspberry ketone, caffeine, bitter orange, ginger, garlic, cayenne, L-theanine, and pepper extract along with B-vitamins and chromium. During the 8-week study, participants followed a calorie-restricted diet approximately calories less per day than estimated needs and engaged in moderate exercise 60 minutes 3 days per week.

Compared to the placebo group, those receiving METABO lost significantly more body weight mean loss of 1. However, 25 of the 70 participants dropped out of the study, and results were reported for only the 45 participants who completed the study i. Furthermore, the product contained many ingredients in addition to raspberry ketone, making it impossible to determine the effects of raspberry ketone alone.

Typical diets provide only a few mg of raspberry ketone a day. Doses contained in dietary supplements typically range from to 1, mg, and the safety of such doses has never been evaluated in humans [ ].

Participants in the METABO study described above had no serious adverse effects [ ]. However, additional research on raspberry ketone is needed to better understand its safety and side effects.

Vitamin D, which is fat soluble, is present in a few foods, such as fatty fish, cheese, egg yolks, and vitamin D-fortified milk. It is also available in many dietary supplements, and humans synthesize it naturally when their skin is exposed to sunlight.

Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and is needed for proper bone growth and remodeling [ 56 ]. Observational studies indicate that greater body weights are associated with lower vitamin D status, and individuals with obesity frequently have marginal or deficient circulating levels of vitamin D [ ].

Nevertheless, the association between vitamin D and obesity raises the question of whether increasing vitamin D concentrations might reduce body weight [ , ]. Despite the association between low vitamin D levels and obesity, scientific evidence does not support a cause-and-effect relationship.

The authors commented that the cause of this finding might have been stored vitamin D in body fat and skeletal muscle that was released during weight loss.

However, according to a meta-analysis of 12 vitamin D supplementation trials including 5 in which body composition measurements were primary outcomes , vitamin D supplements without calorie restriction did not affect body weight or fat mass compared to placebo [ ].

Overall, the available research suggests that consuming higher amounts of vitamin D or taking vitamin D supplements does not promote weight loss.

Vitamin D toxicity can cause anorexia, weight loss, polyuria, and heart arrhythmias. It can also raise calcium blood levels, which can cause vascular and tissue calcification. White kidney bean or bean pod Phaseolus vulgaris is a legume that is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America and is cultivated worldwide [ ].

Phaseolus vulgaris extract is an ingredient in some weight-loss dietary supplements marketed as carbohydrate- or starch-absorption blockers.

Laboratory research indicates that Phaseolus vulgaris extract inhibits alpha-amylase activity, so experts have hypothesized that the plant interferes with the breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates in the gastrointestinal tract [ 16 , ]. Phaseolus vulgaris might also act as an appetite suppressant [ , ].

The effect of Phaseolus vulgaris on weight loss and body fat has been examined in a few clinical trials, which had inconsistent results. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Italy, 60 women who were mildly overweight mean BMI 26 and age 20—45 followed a 2,—2,calorie meal plan and took a tablet containing approximately mg dried aqueous extract of Phaseolus vulgaris Phase 2 Starch Neutralizer IV or a placebo once daily before eating a carbohydrate-rich meal [ ].

After 30 days, those receiving Phaseolus vulgaris extract lost significantly more weight mean weight loss 2. Those in the Phaseolus vulgaris group also experienced a significantly greater reduction in fat mass, adipose tissue thickness, and waist—hip—thigh circumference.

However, the authors noted that the quality of the trials included in their review was poor, making it impossible to draw firm conclusions.

After the publication of that review, a week clinical trial in men and women with overweight or obesity BMI 25—35 showed that Phaseolus vulgaris modestly yet significantly reduced body weight and body fat [ ]. Compared to those taking placebo, those receiving Phaseolus vulgaris lost significantly more body weight mean loss of 2.

Reported adverse effects for Phaseolus vulgaris are minor and include headaches, soft stools, flatulence, and constipation [ ]. No serious adverse effects of Phaseolus vulgaris have been reported in clinical trials, but no trials have lasted longer than 13 weeks.

Yohimbe Pausinystalia yohimbe, Pausinystalia johimbe is a West African evergreen tree. Yohimbine has hyperadrenergic physiological effects because it acts as an alpha-2 receptor antagonist [ 6 , ].

Yohimbe extract is an ingredient in some dietary supplements that are promoted for libido enhancement, body building, and weight loss [ ], but it is used primarily as a traditional remedy for sexual dysfunction in men. The authors of a review of yohimbe concluded that no conclusive evidence indicates that yohimbe affects body weight or body mass [ ].

The author of a review of yohimbe reached similar conclusions, noting that results from small human trials of yohimbine for weight loss are contradictory and the evidence base is insufficient to support a weight loss claim for this compound [ ].

Yohimbe can be dangerous. Taking 20 to 40 mg of yohimbine has been reported to increase blood pressure slightly, whereas doses of mg or higher can cause headaches, hypertension, anxiety, agitation, tachycardia, myocardial infarction, cardiac failure, and death [ 43 , , , , ].

More recently, dietary supplements containing yohimbe accounted for 1, self-reports to U. poison control centers between and [ ]. Although yohimbe is generally well tolerated at low doses [ ], no safe dose has been established for it.

Yohimbe should only be used under medical supervision because of its potential to produce serious adverse effects [ ]. Ephedra also known as ma huang , a plant native to China, is the common name for three main species: Ephedra sinica, Ephedra equisentina, and Ephedra intermedia [ ].

The active compounds, which are in the plant's stem and account for about 1. In the s, ephedra—frequently combined with caffeine—was a popular ingredient in dietary supplements sold for weight loss and to enhance athletic performance. FDA no longer permits the use of ephedrine alkaloids in dietary supplements because of safety concerns that are detailed below, but information is provided here in response to continued interest in this ingredient.

Ephedrine acts as a stimulant in the central nervous system [ , ], and it might increase thermogenesis and act as an appetite suppressant [ ].

The authors of a meta-analysis that included 20 clinical trials concluded that ephedrine and ephedra are modestly effective for short-term weight loss 6 months or less , but no studies have assessed their long-term effects [ ]. While ephedra was available as a dietary supplement ingredient in the United States, its use with or without caffeine was associated with numerous reported adverse effects, including nausea, vomiting, psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and mood change , hypertension, palpitations, stroke, seizures, heart attack, and death [ , ].

Although these reported adverse effects could not be linked with certainty to the use of ephedra-containing dietary supplements, FDA deemed the safety concerns serious enough to prohibit the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids in [ ].

As a result of this ruling, manufacturers are no longer permitted to sell dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids in the United States.

Like all dietary supplements, weight-loss supplements can have side effects and might interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications. In some cases, the active constituents of botanical or other ingredients promoted for weight loss are unknown or uncharacterized [ 29 ].

Furthermore, many weight-loss supplements contain multiple ingredients that have not been adequately tested in combination with one another. Pittler and Ernst noted that for ingredients lacking convincing evidence of effectiveness, "even minor adverse events shift the delicate risk-benefits balance against their use" [ 6 ].

People need to talk with their health care providers about the use of weight-loss dietary supplements to understand what is known—and not known—about these products. FDA and the FTC warn consumers to beware of fraudulent claims about weight-loss dietary supplements [ , ]. At best, products with claims like these do not live up to them, and, even worse, they could be dangerous.

Between January and December , dietary supplements were subject to a Class I recall by FDA, indicating a reasonable probability that use of or exposure to these products would cause serious adverse health consequences. In most cases, the recall was due to the presence of undeclared drug ingredients.

In , FDA issued 36 public notifications warning consumers not to purchase specific weight-loss products because they contained a hidden drug ingredient—often sibutramine, a weight-loss medication that was withdrawn from the U.

market in because of safety concerns [ ]. A product represented as a dietary supplement that contains one or more drug ingredients, whether or not these ingredients are declared on the label, is considered an unapproved drug and is therefore subject to enforcement action by FDA.

FDA maintains a webpage listing public notifications about tainted weight-loss products. Some ingredients in weight-loss dietary supplements can interact with certain medications. For example, glucomannan and guar gum might decrease the absorption of many drugs that are taken orally [ , ].

Glucomannan has been reported to lower blood glucose levels [ ] and, therefore, could interact with diabetes medications [ ]. Chitosan might potentiate the anticoagulant effects of warfarin [ ].

Green tea could interact with chemotherapy drugs [ , ]. Garcinia cambogia was associated with serotonin toxicity in a patient taking the supplement together with two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications [ ].

Other ingredients, such as caffeine and bitter orange, could have an additive effect if taken with other stimulants. Bitter orange has also been shown to inhibit CYP3A4 activity, leading to increased blood levels of certain drugs, such as cyclosporine and saquinavir [ 43 ].

These are just a few examples of interactions between ingredients of weight-loss dietary supplements and medications. Individuals taking dietary supplements and medications on a regular basis should discuss their use with their health care provider.

As this fact sheet shows, the evidence supporting the use of dietary supplements to reduce body weight and stimulate weight loss is inconclusive and unconvincing, and the cost of these products can be considerable [ 6 , 14 , 29 , 41 ]. The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to follow a sensible approach that incorporates a healthy eating plan, reduced caloric intake, and moderate physical activity under the guidance of a heath care provider.

For some individuals with a high BMI who have additional health risks, physicians may prescribe adjunctive treatments, including FDA-approved prescription medications or bariatric surgery, in addition to lifestyle modifications [ 7 ].

Lifestyle changes that promote weight loss might also improve mood and energy levels and lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers [ 5 ].

The Weight Management webpage from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health provides several helpful publications on weight control, obesity, physical activity, and related nutritional issues.

The federal government's — Dietary Guidelines for Americans notes that "Because foods provide an array of nutrients and other components that have benefits for health, nutritional needs should be met primarily through foods. In some cases, fortified foods and dietary supplements are useful when it is not possible otherwise to meet needs for one or more nutrients e.

For more information about building a healthy dietary pattern, refer to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the U. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate.

This fact sheet by the National Institutes of Health NIH Office of Dietary Supplements ODS provides information that should not take the place of medical advice. We encourage you to talk to your health care providers doctor, registered dietitian, pharmacist, etc. about your interest in, questions about, or use of dietary supplements and what may be best for your overall health.

Any mention in this publication of a specific product or service, or recommendation from an organization or professional society, does not represent an endorsement by ODS of that product, service, or expert advice. Updated: May 18, History of changes to this fact sheet.

Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Consumer Datos en español Health Professional Other Resources. Table of Contents Introduction Regulation of Weight-Loss Dietary Supplements Common Ingredients in Weight-Loss Dietary Supplements Ephedra Ma Huang , an Ingredient Banned from Dietary Supplements Safety Considerations Choosing a Sensible Approach to Weight Loss References Disclaimer.

Few clinical trials, all with small sample sizes Research findings : Possible modest reduction in body weight and waist circumference. Increase satiety and gastrointestinal transit time and slow glucose absorption. Several clinical trials with weight loss as a secondary outcome Research findings : No effect on body weight.

Increases energy expenditure and lipolysis; acts as a mild appetite suppressant. Synephrine is the proposed active constituent. Small clinical trials of poor methodological quality Research findings : Possible increase in resting metabolic rate and energy expenditure; inconclusive effects on weight loss.

Some safety concerns reported, especially for combinations with other stimulants Reported adverse effects : Chest pain, anxiety, headache, musculoskeletal complaints, and increased blood pressure and heart rate.

Caffeine as added caffeine or from guarana, kola nut, yerba maté, or other herbs. Short-term clinical trials of combination products Research findings : Possible modest effect on body weight or decreased weight gain over time. Several large clinical trials Research findings : No effect on body weight, weight loss, or prevention of weight gain based on clinical trials.

Increase energy expenditure and lipid oxidation, increase satiety, and reduce energy intake. Several clinical trials, mostly focused on energy intake and appetite Research findings : Might reduce energy intake but no effect on body weight.

Several clinical trials with weight loss as a secondary outcome Research findings : Possible modest reduction in body weight. Small clinical trials, mostly of poor methodological quality Research findings : Minimal effect on body weight. Few safety concerns reported for 0.

Increases lean muscle mass; promotes fat loss; and reduces food intake, hunger levels, and fat cravings. Several clinical trials of varying methodological quality Research findings : Minimal effect on body weight and body fat. Enhances lipolysis and reduces appetite.

Forskolin is the proposed active constituent. Few short-term clinical trials Research findings : No effect on body weight. Several clinical trials Research findings : Minimal effect on body weight and body fat.

Few safety concerns reported for 2. Increases energy expenditure and fatty acid oxidation; suppresses adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation. Studied only in combination with pomegranate-seed oil in one trial in humans Research findings : Insufficient research to draw firm conclusions.

No safety concerns reported from one clinical trial that used 2. Garcinia cambogia hydroxycitric acid. Inhibits lipogenesis, suppresses food intake. Hydroxycitric acid is the proposed active constituent.

Several short-term clinical trials of varying methodological quality Research findings : Little to no effect on body weight. Some safety concerns reported Reported adverse effects : Headache, nausea, upper respiratory tract symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, mania, and liver damage. Several clinical trials of varying methodological quality, mostly focused on effects on lipid and blood glucose levels Research findings : Little to no effect on body weight.

Significant safety concerns reported for tablet forms, which might cause esophageal obstructions, but few safety concerns with up to Green coffee bean extract Coffea arabica, Coffea canephora, Coffea robusta. Few clinical trials, all of poor methodological quality Research findings : Possible modest effect on body weight.

Green tea Camellia sinensis and green tea extract. Increases energy expenditure and fat oxidation; reduces lipogenesis and fat absorption. Several clinical trials of good methodological quality on green tea catechins with and without caffeine Research findings : Possible modest effect on body weight.