Dieters Tend to Go it Alone

A recently published study found that more than 70 percent of Americans who are trying to lose weight intend to do so by following their own diet plan, without medical advice or intervention.

More than one third have used unregulated dietary supplements, part of the billion dollar weight loss industry.

Close to 15 percent of U.S. households bought at least one weight loss product sometime last year, with over-the-counter appetite suppressants and dietary meal replacements (shakes and bars) topping the list. This portion accounted for about $322 million dollars in sales.

Consumers spent about $244 million on prescription weight loss drugs last year (these, of course, would have likely been prescribed by a physician).

45 percent of dieters who use supplements are female, and most are obese (rather than just overweight). Most of these consumers have household incomes of less than $40,000.

1444 people were surveyed for this study, and about half of them incorrectly believed that supplements were regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and two thirds believed that all products must contain warning labels if they were harmful or dangerous.

Two thirds of the research group believed supplements to be safe and effective, although there is no governmental oversight or proof that this is the case.

Supplements are not automatically regulated by the FDA. While the search for easy weight loss continues, the old fashioned way still holds true: burn more calories than you take in. That's the only way to create true, and lasting weight loss.