Supplements that help weight loss - Supplements that help with weight loss
(Coupon: 8460si)
Updated: February 28,2023
Dietary and herbal supplements for weight loss: assessing the quality of patient information online.
Given the high prevalence of dietary and herbal supplement (DHS) use in tandem with the growing ease of internet access, patients commonly search online for consumer health information about these products. One common reason for DHSs use includes weight loss. Healthcare providers need to be aware of the quality of online information about DHSs for weight loss so they can adequately counsel their patients and provide them with guidance surrounding the identification of high-quality information resources. This study aimed to assess the quality of online DHSs consumer health information for weight loss that a “typical” patient might access online.
Methods.
Six search terms were used to generate the first 20 websites on the Google search engine in four countries: Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States (n = 480 websites). After applying exclusion criteria, eligible websites were quality assessed using the DISCERN instrument. This tool is comprised of 16 questions, each evaluated on a 5-point scale. The averages and standard deviations for each DISCERN instrument item, in addition to overall summed scores between 15 and 75 were calculated.
Results.
Across 87 eligible websites, the mean summed score was 44.80 (SD = 11.53), while the mean overall DISCERN score of each website was 2.72 (SD = 0.99). In general, websites detailed and achieved their specified aims and described treatment benefits. However, most websites failed to describe the impact of treatment on overall quality of life and the impact of a no treatment option. The highest-scoring websites were largely government or health portal websites, while the lowest-scoring websites were largely commercial in nature.
Conclusion.
High variability in DISCERN instrument scores was found across all websites assessed. Healthcare providers should be aware of the fact that their patients may be accessing misinformation online surrounding the use of DHSs for weight loss. Therefore, it is important for healthcare providers to ensure that they are providing their patients with guidance on how to identify high-quality resources online, in order that safe, effective, and evidence-based decisions are made surrounding the use of DHSs for weight loss.
Background.
In 2018, an estimated 42.4% of American adults and 18.5% of American adolescents were classified as obese, which is defined as having a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m 2 [1, 2]. Significant medical and psychosocial impacts are associated with obesity, including difficulty in making major dietary and lifestyle improvements [3]. Thus, patients often turn to dietary and herbal supplements (DHSs) to help achieve their weight loss goals [4]. According to the National Institutes of Health, DHSs are oral products that supplement the diet and contain ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and extracts [5]. The use of DHSs for weight loss is widespread, with reports indicating that over 15% of American adults have, at some point, used DHSs for weight loss [6]. In fact, the sales revenue of weight loss supplements is reported to be the fastest growing segment of the dietary supplement industry, with Americans spending over 2 billion dollars in 2015 [7]. These supplements are widely marketed and readily available without a prescription at pharmacies, retail outlets, health food stores, and online retailers [8]. Many of these DHSs are marketed with claims of increasing satiety, metabolism, lipolysis, and thermogenesis while reducing appetite, body fat, and overall weight [9]. Ingredients commonly found in DHSs for weight loss include green tea, chromium picolinate, ephedra, ginger root ( Zingiber officinale ), guarana ( Paullinia cupana ), caffeine, hydroxycitric acid, Siberian ginseng ( Eleutherococcus senticosus ), cayenne ( Capsicum annuum ), and bitter orange ( Citrus aurantium ) [10]. In a 2019 study of the nine most commonly advertised weight loss supplements on Google and Amazon, it was suggested that many weight loss supplements are associated with the potential for physical harm, with side-effects as severe as liver and kidney failure being observed [10]. Thus, patients need scientifically accurate information about safety and efficacy to help guide their choices about weight loss supplements.
Information about DHSs for weight loss is widely available online. According to the Pew Research Center, 90% of the American population has internet access, with the offline population gradually declining from 48% of the total population in 2000 to just 10% in 2019 [11]. Due to this increase in accessibility, consumer health information is becoming increasingly sought after by patients browsing the the internet. A study found that 1 in 3 American adults use the internet to learn about a health concern [12]. Moreover, the amount of people in the United Kingdom who access the internet for health-related information increased from 24% in 2008 to 60% in 2020 [13]. A problem that has arisen from the minimal regulation and standardization of internet resources is the infrequent assessment of online health information quality [14]. An abundance of incomplete and inaccurate information is prevalent online, with millions of accessible resources accumulating daily [14]. Consumers can easily find information about DHSs on the internet, but the veracity of this information is often questionable [15]. Given the high incidence of DHS use and ease of internet access, consulting web-based resources may lead patients to replace or decrease conventional medication use in favour of DHSs [16].
To our knowledge, few studies over the past 5 years have evaluated the quality of online consumer health information about DHSs for weight loss that a “typical” patient might access. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the quality of web-based information related to DHSs for weight loss based on the current online landscape, and thereby fill this void in the literature.
Methods.
Search strategy and screening.
A cross-sectional survey of websites providing DHSs consumer health information for weight loss was conducted. Six search terms were used to generate the first 20 websites on Google search engines in four countries: Australia (google.com.au), Canada (google.ca), the United Kingdom (google.co.uk), and the United States (google.com). These search terms included: ‘dietary supplements for weight loss’, ‘herbal medicine for weight loss’, ‘herbs for weight loss’, ‘natural health products for weight loss’, ‘natural products for weight loss’, and ‘supplements for weight loss’. Search terms were generated based on terms commonly-used to refer to DHSs [8, 17]. Searches involved simple words to simulate the information-seeking behaviour of “typical” patients with limited medical knowledge. It has been found that websites listed on the first page of a Google search generate 92% of all traffic. When moving to page two, traffic drops by 95%, then by 78% and 58% for the subsequent pages [18]. Thus, only the first two pages of search results were reviewed in this study. Searches were completed using only the Google search engine; s of August 2020, Google takes approximately 92% of the search engine market share worldwide, therefore this decision was reflective of where most patients would seek and access health information [19]. Searches were conducted using the Google Chrome browser in Incognito mode to prevent prior search history and cached information from affecting search results. All searches were completed on the same day to ensure consistency. This search strategy was designed by JYN and carried out by SA.
Eligibility criteria.
SA and CJZ reviewed the search results, and duplicate websites across searches were removed. Websites were screened for eligibility and included if they contained at least one webpage that detailed consumer health information related to DHSs for weight loss. Moreover, Wikipedia articles, webpages with only videos (e.g. YouTube), webpages from the same website, Amazon links, invalid addresses, peer-reviewed articles, non-English language websites, eBooks, forums, advertised and sponsored links, and websites that require paid membership to access relevant information were excluded from the study.
Data extraction and website quality assessment.
The DISCERN instrument is a standardized quality index of written consumer health information [20]. It was developed with the input of an expert panel, health information providers, and patients in collaboration with the National Health Service, British Library, and Oxford Research and Development Programme. This tool is comprised of a series of questions evaluated on a 5-point scale ranging from “no” to “yes.” A score of 1 represents a definite “no” which implies the quality criterion has not been fulfilled at all. A rating between 2 and 4 suggests that the website partially meets the criterion in question, with the specific rating depending on the extent of the website’s shortcomings. A score of 5 represents a definite “yes” which indicates the quality criterion has been completely fulfilled [20]. The DISCERN instrument questions are divided into three categories: the reliability of the publication, the specific details of the information about treatment choices, and the overall quality rating of the source of information. It is important to note that DISCERN instrument cannot be used to assess the accuracy of scientific evidence, as this would necessitate checking the information against other sources. Rather, the DISCERN instrument is used to assess the reliability of the website as a source for consumer health information. Furthermore, the DISCERN instrument cannot be used to assess the presentation of information (readability, graphics, layout, etc.) as many assessment tools already exist for this purpose. Instead, the DISCERN instrument fills a gap by examining what consumer health information is being provided, rather than how it is being provided. Through 15 quality criteria, the DISCERN instrument helps pinpoint common causes of inaccurate or unreliable information such as bias. Additional details about the DISCERN instrument can be found at: www.discern.org.uk/discern_instrument.php.
Prior to conducting data extraction and quality assessing eligible websites using the DISCERN instrument, a pilot test designed by JYN was completed by two independent reviewers – SA and CJZ. In this pilot test, data pertaining to three separate websites was extracted and assessed using the DISCERN instrument; both SA and CJZ met with JYN to discuss the data extraction and the scoring of each DISCERN instrument item in detail to standardize its use. After completing the pilot test, SA and CJZ independently completed the data extraction and quality assessment of eligible websites using the DISCERN instrument. SA and CJZ then met with JYN to compare their scores and discuss discrepancies. The mean of the two reviewers’ scores for each of the first 15 DISCERN instrument items was calculated, which yielded an overall summed DISCERN instrument score between 15 and 75 for each website. Next, the means and standard deviations for each DISCERN instrument item, as well as the mean and standard deviation across all 16 items were calculated and assessed.
SA and CJZ extracted the following data: website URL, website type, type(s) of DHSs discussed, type(s) of non-DHS therapies discussed, whether websites appeared in more than one search across different search terms and/or regions, and scores for the sixteen DISCERN instrument questions. Unique URLs that led to the same website were collapsed into one search result for the purpose of quality assessment using the DISCERN instrument. Thus, assessment criteria were applied to each full website, not just a single webpage.
Results.
Search results.
Of the 480 websites retrieved across all searches, 353 duplicates were removed. Of the remaining 127 websites, 40 websites were excluded for the following reasons: had no information on DHSs for weight loss (n = 15), peer-reviewed article (n = 8), Amazon links (n = 8), webpages with only videos (n = 3), webpages from the same website (n = 3), eBook website (n = 2), and invalid address (n = 1). The 87 websites that remained were deemed eligible for assessment. This process is depicted in Fig. 1.
Can supplements help with weight loss?
Supplements for weight loss have been around for a while, but what’s the truth behind them?
Supplements for weight loss Safety Dietitian-approved weight loss strategies.
Can supplements help with weight loss? If you’re been looking for ways to drop a few pounds, then it’s a question you may have found yourself pondering. But just like with the best protein powders and the best multivitamins for women, the supplement world can be a minefield, with a huge range of potions and pills all claiming they can help in shedding unwanted weight.
Although supplements do often contain ingredients considered to be ‘fat burners’ that may help to spur weight loss on a little more, the jury is out as to whether supplements for weight loss are something that are worth taking.
In fact, a recent study published in the journal Obesity (opens in new tab) suggests that supplements do not offer the dramatic weight loss benefits that they so often claim and that the old adage of ‘eat healthy food in smaller portions and move more’ is still the most effective way to reach and maintain an appropriate weight for your height, age and activity level.
Often, supplements for weight loss may also induce various side effects, including some that might not be so pleasant. But is it all bad news or is there some truth behind the idea that supplements can provide a role in weight loss? We asked a registered nutritionist — but it’s worth noting that you should always consult your doctor before introducing a new supplement into your dietary routine.
Can supplements actually help with weight loss?
Registered nutritionist Richard Tucker (opens in new tab) believes there is some potential for supplements to aid weight loss, citing research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (opens in new tab) that showed how caffeine (a popular addition to weight loss supplements) administered at two hour intervals over a 12 hour period could can help speed up metabolism by up to 11% during this period.
“However, over consumption can force you to become less tolerant to the effects,” he adds.
Richard Tucker is a registered nutritionist, consultant and exercise physiologist. He has gained over 12 years of professional experience working with a diverse range of clients, including many world class rugby teams and individual players, boxers, MMA/UFC fighters, Formula One drivers, tennis players and endurance athletes.
Green tea extract is another weight loss ingredient. “Green tea extract is high in caffeine and Polyphenol Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) which combined with caffeine can increase thermogenesis,” he says. “Put simply, this means your body burns calories to produce heat.”
Soluble fiber, also found in many weight loss supplements, is useful when it comes to weight loss too as it reduces levels of ghrelin, our hunger hormone. Whilst doing so, it increases feelings of fullness, helping to regulate our appetite and stop us reaching for snacks, or simply overeating at meal times. Soluble fiber can also be found in foods such as oats, apples and beans.
Related: Gluten-free diet for weight loss: Fact or fiction? Related: Intermittent fasting for weight loss: What the science says.
Tucker adds that yohimbine, which comes from the bark of a specific tree, could be a trigger for weight loss. Although commonly used as an aphrodisiac, it can “prolong the effects of adrenalin and therefore further enhance the breakdown of body fat”, he says.
And if you’ve found yourself asking the question ‘is protein good for weight loss?’ you’ll be pleased to learn that the answer is yes. According to a study published in the Journal of Physiology (opens in new tab) , this satiating macronutrient has a useful role to play when it comes to helping you shift those stubborn pounds.
Tucker says that protein further increases thermogenesis and reduces appetite by reducing the hunger hormone, ghrelin. “A high protein diet will also help preserve muscle mass,” he says.
However, whilst specific ingredients can support weight loss, there is in fact very little research to actually support weight loss enhancing supplements. An evidence based review published in the Journal of Obesity (opens in new tab) does suggest that conjugated linoleic acid, pyruvate, and Irvingia gabonensis do have “some potential benefit for weight loss”, but more research is needed.
Related: What are the best supplements for sleep? (opens in new tab)
Are supplements for weight loss safe?
Although weight loss supplements are safe for consumption, Tuckers says that there can be some side effects to consuming too much or too many of them. These include diarrhea, elevated heart rate and increased sweat rates, which lead to fluid loss and potentially dehydration.
“My approach will always be a ‘food first’ approach; addressing certain lifestyle factors such as your total energy balance — calories in versus calories out — and focussing on a diet that is manageable and most importantly sustainable,” he says. “However, introducing some of these ingredients as part of a sustainable diet may have positive effects on further weight loss.”
But, as Tucker explains, you don’t necessarily have to source these ingredients through a supplement.
“A couple of cups of strong coffee or green tea per day is enough and provides further health benefits rather than just specifically weight loss.”
Dietitian-approved weight loss strategies.
If you’re hoping to lose weight without the use of weight loss supplements, there are several things you can do, as well as various lifestyle tweaks, to help the weight steadily fall off.
They may all seem obvious, or they may be tips you’ve heard before, however they tend to be pretty fool proof.
Tucker says that firstly, it's important to focus on the maximum amount of calories your body requires to be in a calorie deficit. A calorie deficit is typically the fundamental requirement for weight. If you consistently take in less than you burn, you will be in a calorie deficit and you should lose weight.
To work out the number of calories your body needs each day, and then the calories you will need to elicit weight loss, you can use an online calorie calculator (opens in new tab) . Tracking your food intake each day can be done on an app such as MyFitnessPal.
Another way to help weight loss, is to increase your NEAT, which stands for non-exercise activity thermogenesis. This is the energy we use (and therefore the calories we burn) doing things that aren’t exercise, sleeping or eating. It could be the energy burned whilst cleaning the house, doing the shopping or even making the bed.
When it comes to the right diet for weight loss, Tucker says that it’s best to focus on higher protein (meat, fish, white meat, eggs) consumption to increase thermogenesis (calorie burn), increase satiety and to help preserve and build lean muscle tissue. Include foods such as meat, fish, eggs, tofu and dairy foods.
He also advises increasing the amount of soluble and insoluble fiber into your diet, from fruits and vegetables. Finally, sleep is one of the most important factors when it comes to weight loss.
“Prioritize getting seven to nine hours per night,” says Tucker. When we lack sleep, research published by the Sleep Foundation (opens in new tab) has shown that there is a rise in our hunger hormones, making us eat more. A consistently good sleep pattern can help regulate our appetite, plus it allows us to have enough energy to exercise and move, which can enhance our weight loss.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
Supplements that help weight loss - Supplements that help with weight loss
Reference number: vPeuzJc3