Significance

• Weight loss is a battle women and men struggle with on a daily basis. Weight-loss supplement companies recognize that and exploit it by all means. Many of them promise results they can't deliver to get people to buy one product after another. There are countless weight-loss supplements, most of which have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Before buying the next best new product, scrutinize these supplements' safety.
  
  

Types

• Weight-loss supplements come in many forms from different suppliers, each swearing by their product fat-burning pills or liquids. Some of the common weight loss supplements include Trim Spa, Hydroxycut, Green tea extract and Xenadrine EFX. Most of these supplements contain high volumes of caffeine or Citrus aurantium (bitter orange extract), which is found in Xenadrine EFX. Others claim to be natural or contain natural ingredients to make them appear safer and less controversial.
  
  

Side Effects

• Side effects of weight loss supplements depend on the product and the users. Common side effects of weight-loss pills that contain ephedra include high blood pressure, stroke, sleeplessness and decreased appetite. Side effects of supplements such as Green tea extract include vomiting, bloating, indigestion and diarrhea. Although most of these are short-term side effects, there's no scientific knowledge of potential long-term side effects for avid users.
  
  

Warning

• Do not take any weight loss supplements without consulting your physician, nutritionist or a professional in a related field. The vast majority of these products have not been approved by the FDA and could cause you more harm than good. Do not believe every advertisement you see on TV or in a magazine with pictures and testimonials of people who achieved results with certain weight-loss supplements. In the digital world, there's no telling whether the pictures are genuine.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Weight-loss supplements do not make you loose weight. You could take every weight-loss supplement and still not loose weight. Although they claim to boost your metabolism and spark fat loss, proper nutrition and a consistent, structured workout routine that incorporates strength and cardiovascular training is the key to weight loss. Natural supplements do not have side effects. But even if a manufacturer says its supplement is natural does not mean it does not contain potentially damaging ingredients. Always read the fine print.