Due to America's obesity epidemic, millions of people are desperate for an easy, fast, safe and affordable way to lose weight. That's why weight loss supplements have grown to be a multi-billion dollar industry, with each weight loss supplement claiming to be the best one. With so many options available, it is hard to know which ones actually work, and which ones are safe to use. Recently, it was discovered that many weight loss supplements actually contain large amounts of banned drugs which can be very dangerous. The FDA is currently investigating this and is developing a list of which ones to avoid.

You may have heard of popular weight loss supplements such as bitter orange, hoodia, green tea extract, or chitosan. Most of these weight loss supplements claim to work by increasing the rate at which you burn calories, blocking your dietary fat intake, or suppressing your appetite. The truth is that many of these cannot really deliver on their promises, especially when it comes to sustainable long term weight loss. For many others, the long term effectiveness and the long term effects are unknown.

Many of these weight loss supplements also have troubling side effects, and some can even endanger your life, particularly if you have high blood pressure or a heart condition. Other common side effects with weight loss supplements include gastrointestinal or digestive problems, diarrhea, flatulence, vomiting, bloating and insomnia. So in many cases, you will end up suffering through side effects, and in some cases endangering your health, and yet most of these products will not give you the results you're looking for.  

However, there are some that actually do seem to work for a lot of people, and some of these also have very mild side effects if any at all. The important thing is to do a lot of research and discuss your options with a doctor who can help to demystify a lot of the products for you. Your doctor can also warn you about any possible contraindications due to other medications you are on or an existing health problem.

You should also know that there is no easy way to rapidly lose weight and that even when using the best weight loss products it's important to also watch your calorie intake, avoid to much sugar and fat. It's also important to eat healthy foods full of nutrients, such as fruits and vegetables, and get a healthy dose of daily fiber. Getting enough daily exercise to burn a good amount of calories is another important component of any effective long term weight loss plan. If you fail to change your diet and get more exercise, the success of any weight loss plan will be limited.