Two Out Of Three Is Too Much

The percentage of Americans aged 20 and older who are overweight or obese is 66.3 percent. This is roughly 132 million adults who weigh too much.

Obesity drugs are certainly not a viable solution, despite the fact that a recently released report, the Booming Global Obesity Drug Market, says that Americans spend billions each year on weight-loss drugs, medications which have serious (and embarrassing) side effects and are for the most part are ineffective.

The report estimates that globally, by 2012, more than two billion people will be overweight and 600 million will be obese.” Wired magazine writes that, “The FDA is under public pressure to slow down its drug approval process and ensure that new drugs are safe”.

What the world needs is an appropriate, and responsible, solution to the problem. That will require lifestyle changes in what we eat and how much exercise we get.

As part of an overall lifestyle approach to achieve our body-weight goals, it makes sense to choose foods, drinks and dietary supplements that promote healthy weight, safely curb hunger and increase satiety (feeling “full”).
According to Steve Mister of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), “There is a legitimate role for dietary supplements as part of an overall weight-loss management program.” Mister added that, “Consumers [must] understand [however] that these products need to be incorporated into a wellness regimen in combination with [a] healthy diet and regular exercise.”

On the negative side, the weight-loss category has attracted a few unethical companies that see this market as a lucrative opportunity. These fringe feeders prey on the hopes and dreams of unsuspecting consumers who, in many cases, sought a “magic pill” solution to their weight loss problems.

All in all, the Federal government's offensive against questionable weight-loss products, claims and companies is good (to weed out cowboy marketers and irresponsible claims), but this attention could be bad if consumers are shunted over to side-effect-ridden OTC and prescription weight-loss products and away from high-quality nutritional supplements, including those that help people achieve their weight-management goals as part of an overall lifestyle approach, such as 7-KETO® and other promising nutrients.

So, if a late-night-only weight-loss infomercial sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Stick to legitimate, high-quality products from trusted manufacturers that are available in your local health-food store.