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Dangerous Weight Loss Products
Posted on Dec 3rd 2009 11:11AM by Kimberly PapaFiled Under: Diet & Weight Loss
Have you ever wished you could pop a pill and simply watch the pounds melt away? You're not alone. Americans spend an estimated $30 billion on weight-loss products each year, but the get-slim-quick promises many of these products make aren't just untrue -- they're downright dangerous.
In recent months, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cracked down on weight-loss supplements containing undeclared, active pharmaceutical ingredients that have the potential of being life-threatening. After three more products were added this past Friday, a total of 72 supplements are now on the tainted products list and contain ingredients ranging from four times the daily recommended dose of sibutramine (prescribed under the brand name Meridia), which can cause high blood pressure and seizures, to an experimental obesity drug, known as rimonabant, that has been linked to an increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts.
Most of these products promise quick and easy weight loss and are marketed as "dietary supplements," but seldom list active ingredients on the labels, making it hard for consumers to know exactly what they're getting.
"If it looks to good to be true it probably is -- especially if a product promises rapid weight loss," says Ann Metayer, Regulatory Counsel for the FDA.
These types of products can be sold online, in salons and spas and even in well-known stores. "The difficulty is that a number of these products look legitimate, so we are urging consumer to consult with their health care practitioners before taking any weight-loss supplements and to use extreme caution in purchasing any of these products," says Metayer.
Other unlisted ingredients that have been found in these products and can pose a serious health risks include fenproporex, an amphetamine derivative that may cause arrhythmia and possible sudden death; phenolphthalein, which has been found to be genotoxic, meaning that it can damage or cause mutations to DNA; furosemide, a potent diuretic that can cause profound dehydration and kidney damage; as well as fluoxetine, bumetanide, phenytoin and cetilistat.
Here are some red flags to look for if you're considering a weight-loss supplement:
• Promises of an "easy" fix for problems like excess weight, hair loss, or impotency.
• Claims such as "scientific breakthrough," "miraculous cure," "secret ingredient," and "ancient remedy."
• Impressive-sounding terms, such as "hunger stimulation point" and "thermogenesis" for a weight-loss product.
• Claims that the product is safe because it is "natural."
• Undocumented case histories or personal testimonials by consumers or doctors claiming amazing results.
• Promises of no-risk, money-back guarantees.
If you are currently using a weight-loss supplement, read the FDA's list of tainted products to be sure what you're taking is not on it. If you find that your supplement is considered dangerous, stop taking it immediately and contact your doctor. The FDA does caution that it "cannot test and identify all weight loss products on the market that have potentially harmful contaminants in order to assure their safety. Enforcement actions and consumer advisories for unapproved products only cover a small fraction of the potentially hazardous weight-loss products marketed to consumers on the internet and at some retail establishments." So if you're taking a supplement not on the list, but are experiencing any usual symptoms, such as increased heart rate, dizziness or headaches, let your doctor know. Metayer also recommends reporting your symptoms to the FDA's MedWatch program.
In recent months, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cracked down on weight-loss supplements containing undeclared, active pharmaceutical ingredients that have the potential of being life-threatening. After three more products were added this past Friday, a total of 72 supplements are now on the tainted products list and contain ingredients ranging from four times the daily recommended dose of sibutramine (prescribed under the brand name Meridia), which can cause high blood pressure and seizures, to an experimental obesity drug, known as rimonabant, that has been linked to an increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts.
Most of these products promise quick and easy weight loss and are marketed as "dietary supplements," but seldom list active ingredients on the labels, making it hard for consumers to know exactly what they're getting.
"If it looks to good to be true it probably is -- especially if a product promises rapid weight loss," says Ann Metayer, Regulatory Counsel for the FDA.
These types of products can be sold online, in salons and spas and even in well-known stores. "The difficulty is that a number of these products look legitimate, so we are urging consumer to consult with their health care practitioners before taking any weight-loss supplements and to use extreme caution in purchasing any of these products," says Metayer.
Other unlisted ingredients that have been found in these products and can pose a serious health risks include fenproporex, an amphetamine derivative that may cause arrhythmia and possible sudden death; phenolphthalein, which has been found to be genotoxic, meaning that it can damage or cause mutations to DNA; furosemide, a potent diuretic that can cause profound dehydration and kidney damage; as well as fluoxetine, bumetanide, phenytoin and cetilistat.
Here are some red flags to look for if you're considering a weight-loss supplement:
• Promises of an "easy" fix for problems like excess weight, hair loss, or impotency.
• Claims such as "scientific breakthrough," "miraculous cure," "secret ingredient," and "ancient remedy."
• Impressive-sounding terms, such as "hunger stimulation point" and "thermogenesis" for a weight-loss product.
• Claims that the product is safe because it is "natural."
• Undocumented case histories or personal testimonials by consumers or doctors claiming amazing results.
• Promises of no-risk, money-back guarantees.
If you are currently using a weight-loss supplement, read the FDA's list of tainted products to be sure what you're taking is not on it. If you find that your supplement is considered dangerous, stop taking it immediately and contact your doctor. The FDA does caution that it "cannot test and identify all weight loss products on the market that have potentially harmful contaminants in order to assure their safety. Enforcement actions and consumer advisories for unapproved products only cover a small fraction of the potentially hazardous weight-loss products marketed to consumers on the internet and at some retail establishments." So if you're taking a supplement not on the list, but are experiencing any usual symptoms, such as increased heart rate, dizziness or headaches, let your doctor know. Metayer also recommends reporting your symptoms to the FDA's MedWatch program.
