Do weight loss supplements really help?

Weight loss supplements have gained much popularity in the recent times. Some of the popular categories of such supplements include fat burners, fat blockers, metabolism boosters, and appetite suppressants. These pills are very much in demand among people who always wonder how to lose weight quickly. However, majority of these supplements who claim to be powerful and better than a diet meant for weight-loss have very little evidence to support the claims.
 
Consumption of weight loss supplements can also lead to a common psychological effect - moral licensing. The logic behind it is quite simple. According to this psychological theory, the act of performing a perceived positive health behavior may give the concerned person a mental license to follow a less healthy behavior in other areas of the diet. A good example of this can be someone who treats himself to an unhealthy snack as a reward or moral license for going to the gym.

However in reality, a placebo effect causing initial weight loss is the maximum that a person can hope and gain from these weight-loss supplements. Medical researchers have also been contemplating if continuous usage or a fixation of such pills can cause some unforeseen side-effects. 

Could a person who turns to weight loss supplements instead of trying a healthy diet for weight loss be susceptible to a carefree attitude in the other aspects of their diet? To find an answer, a research test involving a group of healthy adults was conducted.

The first stage: 

Here, the people were randomly divided in two groups. The first group was allocated to take a weight loss supplement, while the second group was given a placebo pill. However, the participants were not aware that every pill was actually a placebo pill.

Second stage: 

Both the groups were then required to fill a questionnaire in which they rated the level of progress they were making towards their weight loss goals. After filling the questionnaire, both the groups were treated to a reward drink with the option to choose how much sugar they wanted in it.

Final stage: 

This involved both the groups participating in a taste test. Here, each person could taste and consume different types of confectioneries as much as they wished.

The result: 

In comparison to the second group (placebo pill), people who believed they were consuming a weight loss supplement requested for almost double the amount of sugar in their reward drink. They also ended up consuming 29% more confectionery in their taste test. This group was also more likely to confirm that they were making greater progress towards their weight loss goals.
The entire study was published in the journal, Appetite. For more tips on how to lose weight naturally without using any supplements, you can check this blog on Health Total: Losing weight made easy.

Conclusion: 

People who find themselves wondering how to lose weight or those who look for quick fixes and diets for weight loss need to be aware about the possible repercussions of consuming weight loss supplements. Any perceived healthy action or a good act can lead to a psychological/moral license for self-indulgence. It is essential for people to understand that in addition to taking weight loss pills, they must also make necessary diet and lifestyle changes for a healthy weight loss programme.

About Author : Being a shopping addict, avid reader, ardent writer, along with my love towards traveling and exploring the Globe (their culture and specialties). Fashion Critic and Designing student love to study about top pharma companies and write about it!