It can't come as a surprise that in a BBC survey of over-the-counter slimming pills, four out of five didn't work.

The weight loss solutions checked were Adios, Biosynergy Hoodia Gordonii, LIPObind, Slim Nite and Alli, the over-the-counter version of the prescription drug, Orlistat, available only to people with a body mass index of 28 or more. The leader of the product review, Dr Colin Cable of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain said, "There is good evidence for the efficacy of Orlistat (Alli) in weight reduction but it should not be used as the sole element of weight management." Of the other four, he said, "There are no published randomised clinical trials to support their efficacy in weight loss."

Adios claims to speed up the body's metabolic rate through its seaweed, boldo herb and dandelion root herbal medine brew. Says the review, "There is a lack of clinical research assessing the effects of fucus and rigorous randomised controlled trials are required. Herbal diuretics including boldo and dandelion root are claimed to cause weight loss due to reduction in fluid load but there is no published evidence to support this."

Biosynerygy Hoodia Gordonii claims to reduce calorific intake by up to 1000k/cals a day. The herb hoodia is used by the indigenous populations of Southern Africa to suppress appetite when making long hunting trips in the Kalahari Desert. Says the review, "No clinical studies in weight reduction in humans were found. One company (Phytopharm) has patented P57, claimed to be the active ingredient of Hoodia. The company claims to have carried out double blind clinical studies that demonstrate that P57 creates a sensation of feeling full thus reducing calorific intake in overweight subjects."

LIPObind says it's a "clinically proven fat binder that contains Litramine, a patented fibre complex, which readily binds with fat from food to become a large fat-fibre complex, that is too large to be absorbed in the small intestine. It is then naturally passed out with no harmful side effects." The review says, "The official Litramine website presents data from four studies to support its fat-binding properties and one for its weight-loss claims. There is no indication on the website to where data relating to the clinical study on weight loss can be found. Searches of databases found no published clinical studies to support the weight-loss action of Litramine in humans."

Slim Nite is a food supplement in a capsule containing three amino acids: L-ornithine, L-arginine and L-carnitine, three of which are taken before going to sleep. It claims that carnitine "plays a vital role in converting stored body fat into energy."The review says, "Three studies investigating the effects in humans of L-carnitine were found. Two of the studies found that the amino acid did not promote weight loss. The third was not able to show the specific effect of L-carnitine in weight reduction." The manufacturer does stress, though, that food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet.

Ruth Kander is a British National Health Service dietician who also reviewed the products. She said: "People want a quick fix in their life, they want to lose weight really quickly, and they don't want to give up their favourite foods, they don't want to work hard at what they're eating.

"But that's not real life and that's not what clinical practice is about. And some of these products haven't got the research which is needed to see that they're effective."

Just look at the response to date to my warnings about the Acai Berry Diet scam...

1 Comment

1. Lisa McCormack

   Thank you for delving into this topic! I'm in my mid50s and my metabolic rate, among many other things, isn't what it used to be. I'm going to buy Alli today, and as soon as the temperature dips below 120 degrees in the shade I shall begin taking long morning walks to speed up the process. Thanks eatwashington!