It's a big question nowadays, especially with the prevalent obesity problem seen nationwide.
Add the stigma that goes along with being overweight and you've got millions of people running to the store, checking online, and calling infomercials for every weight loss supplement on the market.
Some of these products say 'you'll drop pounds a day'.
Sounds ideal but it begs the question 'are they safe'? More often than not, the answer is no.
It's amazing to find how ineffective and/or harmful many of these weight loss supplements can be with just a little research.
Even reading a product's review yield warning if you sort through the glamorizing descriptions.
If they talk about instant weight loss then they are probably citing how the supplement will cause you to lose water weight but not burn fat.
Water weight is easily lost and easily regained.
Plus, water is good for the body so losing it is counter productive.
If you see mention of 'increased energy' then it is likely that the product contains a lot of caffeine or sugar.
Or, and this is a statement to be weary of, it could increase insulin in order for you to have more energy while burning fat.
This is actually wrong as insulin helps the body use sugar before using fat as an energy source and an increase of insulin in a person's system over a substantial amount of time has been shown to cause hyperglycemia which can lead to diabetes.
The best course a person can take in weight loss is to exercise and form good habits in their dietary practices.
If you decide to take some form of weight loss supplement, check products consisting largely of natural ingredients such as acai berry or resveratrol.
With the formation of these good practices, you can expect to loss 2-5 pounds a week.
It may not seem like much but it is the safest course and most likely to establish a long-term gain.