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Consumers Increasingly Misled by Weight Loss Products

November 7, 2006

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A new survey finds that many adults are confused about the safety and regulation of dietary supplements for weight loss.

The survey, conducted by the University of Connecticut's Center for Survey Research & Analysis (CSRA), is the first survey of its kind to address the increasing use of dietary supplements for weight loss and to explore consumer perceptions and their experiences with these products.

"This survey underscores why healthcare professionals must help educate patients, not only about safe and effective weight control products that are backed by science, but also about the claims of some unproven products offering false hope," said Tom Wadden of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine,

The study showed that more than 60 percent of respondents incorrectly believe that these weight loss products have been tested and proven to be safe (65 percent) and effective (63 percent).

More than half (54 percent) mistakenly believe that these products are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Confusion Reigns

The survey findings highlighted that many adults are confused about the safety and regulation of dietary supplements for weight loss.

• Comparative ratings suggest that survey respondents considered dietary supplements for weight loss treatments to be safer but less effective than prescription weight loss drugs.

• Of note, blacks (50 percent) and Hispanics (49 percent) were more likely than Caucasians (36 percent) to believe that these products were safer than over-the-counter weight loss drugs or than prescription weight loss drugs.

• Sixty-four percent of those surveyed believed that products were required to display warnings about potential side effects when, in fact, there is no such requirement. Currently, there are no over-the-counter weight loss products approved by the FDA.

Patient Efforts and Physician Interaction

More than 90 percent of self-identified overweight or obese American adults surveyed recognize the health benefits of losing weight and that being overweight increases their risk of disease.

However, fewer than one-third of those surveyed consulted their physician as a resource in the attempt to lose weight. But of those respondents only 15 percent used FDA-approved treatments to aid in weight loss, but more than twice that many -- 34 percent -- used unproven weight loss products.

Those surveyed reported that they had made an average of 15 serious and deliberate weight-loss efforts in their lifetimes, defined as attempts maintained for more than three days.

The top three weight loss strategies employed were self-directed exercise (90 percent), dieting (72 percent) and the use of products such as dietary supplements, appetite suppressants and herbal products (34 percent).

In terms of realistic expectations of weight loss, those surveyed were found to have high aspirational goals; however, their actual weight loss did not meet those goals. Furthermore, those surveyed set higher goals for weight loss after falling short of meeting these goals, rather than setting realistic goals, based on their most recent weight loss attempt.

Complicating the issue, the survey revealed that patients do not consult their physician regarding weight control.

"It is encouraging that so many patients realize the importance of losing weight as part of a healthy lifestyle, but alarming that so few discuss weight loss options with their physician," said Christine Kraus, Ph.D., Associate Director, Center for Survey Research & Analysis. "The result, it seems, is that they're lacking accurate information on the best programs and products to help them achieve their weight loss goals."

The survey also found that patients are not using their physician as a resource to help them lose weight, but also, physicians are not advising their patients on weight loss strategies. Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of overweight and close to half (40 percent) of obese persons had never been advised by their doctor to lose weight and even fewer were inclined to consult a doctor regarding weight loss.

Survey results also showed that though one out of six self-identified overweight people use prescription weight loss medications, accompanying physician counseling is often incomplete.

"Patients need to know that they can trust their healthcare provider to help guide them along an appropriate path to realistic weight loss," added Dr. Wadden.

The survey of 3,500 Americans was developed as a collaboration between the University of Connecticut's Center for Survey Research & Analysis, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Weight Loss and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare.

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