Dietary supplements for obesity

Abstract

Almost 80 million American adults are obese, with rates highest in adults aged 40 to 59 years. 1 Socioeconomic status is also linked to obesity. Lower income and potentially lower levels of education are associated with greater risks of being overweight. The health care costs for obesity have been estimated at $178 billion in 2008. 1 Although new prescription drugs have been approved for the treatment of obesity, concerns remain about their long-term safety and ef cacy. As a result, many patients who are overweight or obese commonly consider using dietary supplements for weight loss.