TEXTO:
Dieters, beware
Supplements for weight loss are heavy on claims and light on scientific proof
If there existed a safe, effective and rigorously
tested weight-loss pill that could help slim you down
without dangerous side effects, you’d be best off hearing
about it from your doctor. But for now, most weight-loss
[5] supplements are not evaluated for safety by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and their too-goodto-
be-true promises come from marketers, whose claims
are facing scrutiny by the Federal Trade Commission.
Diet-supplement claims were also at the center of
[10] a recent Senate hearing, where law-makers questioned
Dr. Mehmet Oz for having called some diet pills a
“miracle” and “magic weight-loss cure” despite a lack of
validated scientific evidence. And while prescription
weight-loss drugs like Belviq and Qsymia are regulated
[15] by the FDA, supplements are not. A bill introduced in
2013 requiring companies to register their products with
the FDA and improve labeling to include safety risks
and efficacy is now before a Senate committee. In the
meantime, here is what science says – or doesn’t say –
[20] about what’s out there.
The universe of diet supplements
1. FAT BURNERS
(γ linoleic acid, DNP)
AÇAI BERRY
Claim: They will “melt away” fat and help build muscle.
Science: Not much. There’s insufficient evidence that they can contribute to weight loss.
Risks: Some are banned by the FDA (though they remain available online) over risks of organ failure.
2. APPETITE SUPPRESSANTS
( hoodia, beta glucan)
WHEY
Claim: The pills and powders can make you feel full, causing you to eat less.
Science: There are few human studies confirming their effectiveness.
Risks: Since they haven’t been well studied, side effects are wholly unknown.
3.FAT BLOCKERS
(chitosan)
GUAR GUM, HYDROXYCITRATE
Claim: You won’t absorb as much dietary fat from your food.
Science: There isn’t strong evidence that these work without a low-calorie diet.
Risks: Some cause diarrhea and inhibit vitamin absorption, while others, made from shellfish, may trigger allergic reactions.
4.METABOLISM BOOSTERS
(leptin)
BITTER ORANGE, GREEN COFFEE
Claim: They help you burn more fat and calories.
Science: Stimulants may help cells use more energy, but they can come with serious adverse effects.
Risks: Some stimulants speed heart rate and blood pressure, and heart attacks have been reported.
PARK, Alice; SIFFERLIN, Alexandra. TIME, Jul 7-14, 2014. p.12.
The phrase “too-good-to-be-true promises” (l. 6-7) is closest in meaning to
