Weight loss supplements don't work, may be harmful

A new review of scientific studies on weight loss supplements suggests that, overall, most are ineffective and some may be dangerous. According to a survey reported in the 2001 Journal of the American Medical Association, about seven percent of American adults use weight-loss supplements, and more than 28 percent of young, overweight women use them. The review examined both combination formulas and individual ingredients, including guar gum, chitosan, chromium and glucomannan, and found that, for most, the efficacy and long-term safety were questionable or unknown. And while ephedra has been banned, some weight loss supplements contain ingredients with similar risks as ephedra.