Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a diet pill that some believe will help you build muscle and lose weight.

CLA is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in meat and dairy products. It is responsible for helping to transport, store and metabolize fats in the body. It is produced by bacteria in the gut of animals including sheep, cows and turkeys, and small amounts of CLA are also found in plants such as sunflowers and safflowers. Scientists believe that humans can also produce CLA with a healthy diet and the proper balance of bacteria in their gut.

CLA has been investigated for its anti-cancer properties, and more recently, for its ability as a weight-loss product. This dietary supplement is sold in health food stores as a drug or syrup and claims to help people lose fat, maintain weight loss, increase lean muscle mass and control type 2 diabetes -- the type of diabetes often associated with obesity.

When looking at CLA as a weight-loss aid, registered dietitian and nutrition consultant, Tara Gidus, advises people to proceed with caution.

"First, there is no magic pill out there for weight loss, however, CLA does show some promise," Gidus said. "Quite a few studies have shown a reduction in body fat percentage and maintenance of lean mass when subjects have taken CLA. A meta-analysis was done (as outlined in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2007) looking at all of the research on CLA and the consensus seems to be that it may help aid in loss of body fat."

Experts agree that dieters should not rely solely on diet pills. "The weight loss changes with CLA are small, and someone should not expect fat to melt from their body without reducing calories and increasing activity," stated Gidus.

For more information on weight-loss supplements, check out a review of this FDA-banned diet drug. Plus, That's Fit's nutritionist columnist Johnny Bowden gave his own review of Conjugated linoleic acid for weight loss.

This prescription diet pill Meridia (with a scientific name sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) treats obesity by increasing satiety -- or the feeling of being full.This orally-administered drug is typically recommended to be used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise routine to treat excess weight that may be related to diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

As for its effectiveness? The jury is still out. According to Fred Vagnini, M.D., medical director of the Heart, Diabetes and Weight Loss Centers of New York and author of "The Weight Loss Plan for Beating Diabetes," Meridia is not as effective as one might originally think.

According to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2005, participants who received sibutramine and lifestyle modification lost more weight than taking the drug alone or doing behavior modification on its own. All subjects were prescribed a 1,200 to 1,500-calorie diet and the same exercise regime.

"Studies have not shown a real dramatic long-term weight loss with Meridia," Vagnini said. "I don't think it's that effective and it affects blood pressure."

For instance, Dr. Vagnini previously prescribed sibutramine in his practice for weight loss and mentions it was "not successful" in terms of weight loss. Furthermore, as shown in studies and indicated by the drug's manufacturer, sibutramine has been known to increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients. In placebo-controlled obesity studies, 5 to 20 mg daily dosages were associated with increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

According to the drug manufacturer, side effects from taking Meridia include increased blood pressure, dry mouth, upset stomach, constipation, nausea, memory loss and dizziness.

At That's Fit, we're committed to helping you get healthy, live well and be strong through healthy lifestyle choices including healthy diets and enough exercise.

Two Day Diet pills are a weight-loss supplement that claim to be "all-natural," offering users the chance to lose up to 15 pounds in one month. Also known as the Two Day Diet Japan Lingzhi Slimming capsules, these diet pills contain a number of foreign-sounding ingredients such as ebony, Lingzhi, sibutramine, fox nut, seman pruni, dioscoreae and tuckahoe.

Those using Two Day Diet pills are instructed to swallow one or two capsules before breakfast and are advised to drink plenty of water. The supplements are recommended to be used with a balanced eating and exercise plan.

According to the manufacturers, Two Day Diet pills can do several things: Speed up your metabolism, prevent your body from digesting fat, suppress your appetite, boost your energy and expel toxins and waste from your body. However, according to Keri M. Gans, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, "there is no scientific research to support the claims."

Reviews of the product are quite often negative, and Gans adds "I recommend healthy eating, not another fad diet with false hope."

Minor side effects listed for the product include dizziness, diarrhea and thirst. Several major complications have also been linked to the product, including stroke and heart attack.

A 30-day supply of 2 Day Diet pills can be purchased for approximately $30 and are available through a variety of online retailers.

Chromium, also called Chromium Picolinate, is a weight-loss supplement. Chromium is a naturally occurring mineral found in meat, poultry, fish and whole grains, and when combined with picolinic acid, has anecdotally been believed to help weight loss by helping in reducing body fat and increasing lean muscle. Chromium picolinate has also been linked to having positive effect on how the body processes glucose and been rumored to manage type 2 diabetes.

But while it's mostly agreed that chromium picolinate weight-loss supplements aren't generally harmful, they're not thought to carry much benefit either -- i.e. they probably won't help you lose any pounds.

According to Health Service at Columbia University, there is no evidence to prove that chromium affects weight loss.

Hank Lukaski, Research Leader at the US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center insists, "Chromium picolinate has no effect on building muscle, reducing body fat, changing body composition, decreasing weight or increasing strength."

Officials at Harvard Medical School advocate natural chromium consumption through a healthy diet rich in whole grains, nuts, broccoli and green beans, which contain the mineral, but do not recommend chromium supplements without a doctor's consent.

What's more, Science Daily reports that there may be an increased cancer risk to those who regularly took the chromium.

Chromium picolinate supplements are taken on a daily basis before working out. Alternatively, pure chromium supplements can be ingested. Chromium and chromium picolinate supplements are available through various online dealers for approximately $10 for 250 tablets.

Trying to lose weight? AOL Health reviewed these natural weight loss aids and their claims -- to see which work and how effective they really are.

Ephedrine is an alkaloid, or chemical compound, found in the plant ephedra and is traditionally used in Chinese medicine and some over-the-counter and prescription medications. More recently, it has been marketed as a diet pill.

Ephedra-containing products stimulate the central nervous system and often include additional stimulants, such as caffeine, to promote weight loss. According to the Food and Drug Administration, ephedra has been found in weight-loss supplements and products to increase energy levels and athletic performance. Some variations of ephedra have even been sold as alternatives to illegal drugs.

The use of ephedrine has been controversial because of side effects such as high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, nerve damage, muscle injury, psychosis and memory loss. More serious results have also been reported, including heart attack, stroke, seizure and death. Because ephedrine and supplements containing it have been linked to unreasonable risk of illness or injury, according to the Mayo Clinic, ephedrine is currently banned in the U.S.

To learn about other potentially dangerous weight-loss drugs, take a look at our list of dangerous diet pills.

When it comes to rising levels of obesity in the United States, there's finally a glimmer of good news. In addition to three drugs now commonly used to treat the overweight and obese, three more weight-loss prescription drugs are in the works. Many researchers say safe and effective weight-loss medications can save lives and a ton of money by curbing the incidence of weight-related diseases such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

The three prescription drugs presently used to treat obesity include sibutramine (Meridia), which increases satiety; phentermine, which suppresses appetite; and orlistat (Xenical), which prevents some dietary fat from being absorbed by the intestine. Orlistat is sold in a lower dose over-the-counter, like Alli. The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing safety information regarding reports of liver-related adverse events in patients taking orlistat.

Like the three well-known drugs above, the new drugs are intended either for people who are obese, which is considered to be 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight, or for overweight patients who have risk factors like high blood pressure. A quick review of the three new drugs:

You've seen the infomercials and you've gotten the spam... miracle weight loss in a pill. When it comes to weight loss (actually, when it comes to almost anything in life) if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

FitSugar gives us the skinny on some of those weight loss supplements. Some of the components in the pills can actually be detrimental to your health. The list of red flag components includes ma huang, bitter orange, guarana, synephrine HCI, caffeine anhydrous, and more.

For long-lasting, healthy weight loss your best bet is eating well and working out. Check out AOL Body's America Takes It Off for tips. The proof is in the low-fat pudding, people. So far, ATIO participants have lost 155 pounds and counting.

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When it comes to weight loss, many people are looking for a magic pill solution -- that is, they want a quick fix that is easy and painless, and doesn't force them to modify their life at all. Many would love to keep on eating unhealthy foods while taking off the pounds, but it is possible?

WebMD has a thorough article on weight-loss drugs; I suggest you read it when you have a moment. Currently, there are only a handful of drugs that have been proven to be effective, and the rest are just a waste of money. And for those of us who are only looking to lose a few pounds? Forget it -- prescription medications are typically only prescribed to obese people as a last resort. Keep in mind that these drugs can have serious side effect.

Having gone from someone with an unhealthy diet to someone with a love of healthy living, I would have no desire to take weight-loss drugs if I became overweight. Why? Losing weight the old fashioned way is hard, but eating healthy and exercising is so rewarding, and your healthy habits should last a lifetime. Don't you think?

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Let me be very clear here -- I am no fan of any kind of pill that "helps" people lose weight. Yes, many of you are sure to agree with me here, but if losing weight does not involve effort at all (as in, physical effort), then in my view the human body was not designed for it. That hasn't stop marketers and drug companies, though, from capitalizing on the naive public who love to hear about quick fixes.

Now, with that in mind, losing weight the proper way can still be a bit distressing. It takes time (months and months) to lose just 10 pounds or so (safely), and that time period can just be too long for some. Something that can give dieters a "boost" would be good in this process, and from appearances, Alli -- the first weight-loss drug ever approved by the FDA -- sounds like a decent alternative. Is it?

This review over at The Diet Channel breaks down Alli into what the drug is and how it works and would be of keen interest if you're considering the drug to assist you with losing weight alongside that exercise and nutrition program.

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Every time I read about the "next best weight loss pill", I am quite the skeptic. I'm a firm believer in that the way to maintain optimum health is to eat and drink "right" and partake in regular exercise.

Well, here we go with yet another weight loss "pill" that may be able to claim the magical "melt the pounds away" marketing message that is usually so absurd that it somehow sells.

A new capsule called "alli" (or orlistat) was just approved by the FDA as an over-the-counter weight loss assistant for overweight adults. The significance here? Well, the magical "weight loss pill" is now an OTC drug -- the first ever. Never before have weight loss pills been classified as OTC drugs, but simply as nutritional supplements.

I'll believe this when I see it though -- regardless of scientific research. This pill, and the pill alone, can cause weight loss? Puh-leeeze.

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