SHAPE UP: Can Diet Pills Ever Work? ; WE LOOK AT THE SCIENCE BEHIND CLAIMS THAT FAT-LOSS FORMULAS WILL SHED POUNDS

WE all know there’s no magic potion that can make flab disappear overnight.

But that doesn’t stop us shelling out on diet pills, many of which boast sensational results when it comes to rapid weight loss and fat burning.

In fact, more people than ever are buying slimming pills, according to market research company Mintel.

Last year, we spent pounds 7.7million on appetite suppressants and controllers. But can a pill really help you shed unwanted flab?

To find out, we asked registered public health nutritionist Dr Carrie Ruxton to look into the claims on the labels of some popular diet supplements.

She warns, “Manufacturers frequently claim beneficial effects, but current legislation does not compel them to support these claims with research.”

After studying the published evidence for and against the key ingredients found in various over-the-counter diet pills, here’s what we discovered…

Metasys

pounds 20.99 for 120

(Available from Boots or via mail order on 0845 456 2751)

CONTAINS: Green tea extract.

CLAIM: Helps your body use more calories when combined with exercise.

PROOF: There are no published studies on the effect of green tea extract on weight loss. However, one study suggests it could help you burn calories. Theoretically, it may help you lose weight.

DR RUXTON SAYS: “Green tea seems to help you burn fat but we now need a study showing whether this effect will actually cause weight loss. Plus green tea has properties which protect against cancer and heart disease, so it is good for general health.”

Zotrim

pounds 23 for 90

(Available from Boots and via mail order on 01494 727888)

CONTAINS: Yerba mate, guarana and damiana.

CLAIM: Can help reduce overall food intake and therefore help you lose weight.

PROOF: Clinical trials on this formulation of South American herbs have been published in medical journals. One study shows that after taking Zotrim for 45 days, volunteers lost an average of 11lbs without following any other kind of diet or exercise plan.

DR RUXTON SAYS: “This product has scientific proof behind it and causes a weight loss of around 1lb a week, which is healthy and sustainable. It works by increasing the feeling of fullness after meals.”9/10

Adios

pounds 9.95 for 100

(Available from Boots, pharmacies and health stores)

CONTAINS: Butternut, dandelion root, boldo dry extract and fucus dry extract.

CLAIM: Quickens weight loss by speeding up your metabolic rate, but only when used alongside a calorie-controlled diet.

PROOF: Fucus (better known as kelp) is often touted as a metabolism-boosting substance. But scientific evidence shows it only works if you have an underactive thyroid. We couldn’t find any reported weight loss effects of butternut, boldo or dandelion root in published studies.

DR RUXTON SAYS: “Unfortunately, there’s no good quality evidence to say that these ingredients will help you lose weight.”

6/101/10Bio-Trim

pounds 9.95 for 30

(Available from pharmacies and health stores)

CONTAINS: Chromium, co-enzyme Q10, l-carnitine and garcinia cambogia.

CLAIM: An advanced formulation for dieters.

PROOF: Studies show that chromium has no effect on weight loss, though one suggests it has a slight effect on the very obese. Garcinia cambogia is claimed to suppress your appetite, but there’s no hard evidence to confirm it. Studies show l-carnitine could help burn fat but not that it helps you lose weight.

DR RUXTON SAYS: “The ingredients haven’t been shown to cause weight loss. Also the FSA advises against supplements containing chromium for safety reasons.”2/10

Thermobol

pounds 34.99 for 30

(Available from Asda, Waitrose, Tesco and via mail order on 01923 650 600)

CONTAINS: Citrus aurantium,

l-tyrosine, caffeine, green tea extract, cayenne extract, guarana extract and black pepper extract.

CLAIM: Helps you achieve your fat loss goals in conjunction with a calorie-controlled diet.

PROOF: Citrus aurantium has been shown to have a mild fat- burning effect. Guarana has only been studied alongside other substances, so it’s not clear whether it works in this particular product. Caffeine can boost your metabolism, which suggests it could help you lose weight. However, actual proof from studies is lacking.

DR RUXTON SAYS: “This supplement contains an interesting mix of fat burners. However, I’d like to see more evidence for actual weight-loss, as the research was far too short-term.”6/10