THE DOCTOR OF THE FUTURE WILL GIVE NO MEDICINE, BUT WILL INSTRUCT HIS PATIENT IN THE CARE OF THE HUMAN FRAME, IN DIET AND IN THE CAUSE AND PREVENTION OF DISEASE- Thomas Alva Edison
While it is still being debated if this great inventor did in fact make this prophesy, but the fact remains that this statement has started to turn into reality. The Dietitian will almost never become a doctor but his/her advice would definitely ensure the well being of the system called Human Body. A healthy body sans obesity is something that all crave for. It is a well known fact that Obesity is the root cause of so many diseases and a critical study of this phenomena is vital for the well being of the human body.
As part of the endeavor to effective weight loss, Dietitians have started to advice the use of supplements to achieve this aim. The purpose of this article to critically review if such supplements have been effective in overcoming Obesity in a healthy and holistic manner.
Any analysis would be ineffective without arriving at causal factors. The causal factors of obesity/overweight come in from imbalance of water, muscle, bone, and fat. Any supplement that is recommended must aim to tackle this causal factor. Initially supplements were attuned towards progressively achieving removing this imbalance and restoring optimum weight healthily.
However, the decisive moment came in when people began to view the human body in the context of the monetary ecosystem. By 2014, the United states saw 60 Billion Dollar investment in the weight loss industry. People spend 40 billion dollars on diet and diet related products. 8 out of 10 people preferred quick fix solutions rather than exercise. This caused the real disruption and the era of advising supplements were over and the era of prescribing supplements began. With this began the downfall of the weight loss Supplement industry.
What are Dietary Supplements?
As defined by Congress in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, which became law in 1994, a dietary supplement is a product (other than tobacco) that
- is intended to supplement the diet;
- contains one or more dietary ingredients (including vitamins; minerals; herbs or other botanicals; amino acids; and other substances) or their constituents;
- is intended to be taken by mouth as a pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid; and
- is labeled on the front panel as being a dietary supplement.
These supplements are otherwise called as “MIRACLE PILL”. Common ingredients in these weight loss supplements include botanicals, dietary fiber, caffeine and minerals. Most of the supplements tend to work with one of the below mentioned mechanisms.
- Reduce appetite
- Reduce absorption of fat
- Increase fat burning
All of this is found by going through a thorough research and lots of clinical trials. And, this is done by professionals who have a degree and expertise in clinical research. If you are also looking for a career in the same, you can get yourself enrolled with Avigna Clinical Research Institute for a PG diploma clinical research in Bangalore, where you can take up an online course, so that you can learn from the comfort of your home, without disturbing your current schedule.
Common Available supplements & ill effects –
- Garcina Cambogia – Mild digestive problems
- Caffeine – Anxiety, insomnia, nausea
- Orlistat – Many digestive problems
- Raspberry Ketones – Burp to smell like raspberry
It is difficult to determine the quality of a dietary supplement product from its label. The degree of quality control depends on the manufacturer, the supplier, and others in the production process. In 2007, the FDA issued Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for dietary supplements, a set of requirements and expectations by which dietary supplements must be manufactured, prepared, and stored to ensure quality. Manufacturers are now expected to guarantee the identity, purity, strength, and composition of their dietary supplements.
Dietary supplements are not required by federal law to be tested for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed, so the amount of scientific evidence available for various supplement ingredients varies widely. Some ingredients in dietary supplements should be carefully evaluated.
Conclusion
It is suggested that weight loss supplements prescribed by dietician are evaluated for the potential benefits against the possible risks. There is no substitution for exercise. Hence it is suggested that every individual makes every effort to exercise, and modify eating habits. Weight loss supplements aren’t the easy answer to shed those extra weight but they can be a useful tool to help you make the necessary diet and life style changes.
“Slow progress is better than No progress”
