Written by Menswear Style in Health & Fitness on the 26th August 2021

At some point in almost everyone’s life, there was a struggle to shed a few extra pounds. There’s no denying that it’s a difficult task, especially with all those new diets and trends emerging and not knowing whether they work or not. While weight loss is mainly achieved through diet and exercise, there’s nothing wrong with getting a little help from over-the-counter weight loss supplements. Since over-the-counter means it’s not prescribed by a doctor, you’ll need to assume the role of being your own and choose it yourself. To help you out here’s all you need to know about weight loss supplements, and most importantly, what to look for when buying them.

What is a Weight Loss Supplement? 

Before you start shopping around for over-the-counter weight loss supplements, you need to understand what they are. A weight loss supplement is made of certain natural ingredients that aid in the process of fat burning. They come in two categories: non-prescription drugs and dietary supplements and they come in several forms including pills, powder, liquid, and gummies. What you should know about slimming gummies is that they are also a weight loss supplement. The main difference between the two categories is the way they are regulated; over-the-counter weight loss supplements are overseen by The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, unlike dietary supplements which are regulated by manufacturers.

Things To Consider Before Buying Weight Loss Supplements 

Weight Loss Goals: You need to consider what you are trying to achieve that led you to consider over-the-counter weight loss supplements in the first place. Is it because you are finding it hard to stick to a diet or because you haven’t even found the right diet in the first place? Do you have a certain area in your body with stubborn fat that just won’t go away with a normal diet and exercise? Or are you almost at your goal weight and just need a little push? This will help you determine which type of weight loss supplement is right for you whether it be an appetite suppressant, a carb blocker, or a thermogenic fat burner. 

Health Condition: A crucial thing to think about before you buy weight loss supplements is any health condition you may have as well as your overall health. It’s wise to consult with your physician before buying weight loss supplements and conduct a full examination to see if there’s anything that would make it a danger to your health. Conditions like diabetes, heart disease, blood pressure, liver disease, or things like pregnancy and breastfeeding should be considered when taking such pills. Make sure you’re also not taking any other medication that might interact with the supplement and either reduce or intensify its effect. Make sure the capsule or softgel manufacturer has a good reputation and provides a money-back guarantee in case the product doesn’t work for you.

What To Look For In Over-The-Counter Weight Loss Supplements

Safety First: The main concern for anyone buying over-the-counter weight loss supplements is whether they are safe to take or not, even if they are natural supplements, which is totally justifiable. The first thing you should look for to be sure whether the supplement is safe or not is the FDA-approved seal. If the supplement has it, you can guarantee that it’s safe for consumption. Otherwise, you can contact the manufacturing company to learn more about their drug safety and regulation as well as testing. 

List Of Ingredients: Over-the-counter supplements are not always made up of natural products or they can be mixed with chemical and synthetic ingredients. That’s why the supplements professionals at Chron recommend conducting enough research on all brands out there before purchase, and reading the ingredients for each to get the best possible one. Try to stay away from stimulant ingredients like caffeine, bitter orange, guarana, and yerba mate since they don’t do much for weight loss anyway even though you will find them in most brands.

Features & Side Effects: Not all weight-loss supplements share the same features, even though they share the same overall purpose. While some supplements focus on burning fat, others focus on suppressing appetite or controlling hunger sensation, stopping fat production, or increasing metabolism. There are even other non-weight-loss-related features like boosting energy, reducing fatigue, and preventing bloating. The same goes for side effects; they differ according to brand and can include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, headaches, back pain, or insomnia. That’s why research and label-reading is one of the most important things in learning all features and side effects while buying your supplement. 

Reviews: As with anything else, especially major purchases, looking at customer reviews of the product can be a huge help. In this case, you can’t particularly take people’s word and experiences because different bodies can respond differently to the same supplement and there are many factors that come into play. However, the fact there are customer reviews in the first place is a good sign for the brand. It won’t hurt if you sift through these reviews and see how people responded to the supplement and take note of the percentage of satisfied customers.

Transparency: Another important thing to look for when buying your over-the-counter weight loss supplement is company transparency. This means that the company includes all of its information on the supplement along with a website and contact information. It’s never a good sign if a company doesn’t do this since they will be difficult to reach. Their website should also be informational and professional, including the ingredients and benefits of the supplement without using overly complicated jargon and catchy expressions to sell their product. That’s how you’ll know you’ve chosen a reputable, honest brand that is easily accessible in case of any inquiry or complaint you might have. 

This is pretty much everything there is to know about buying over-the-counter weight loss supplements. The main thing you should focus on is complete, thorough research on several brands and types to determine which one is right for you. You don’t want to take something that ends up either having no effect at all or, worse, a negative one. So once you make a decision about which supplement to buy, it’s wise to run it by your physician or a nutritionist who can give you the green light to try it out.

Weight Loss Goals, Health Condition, Safety First, List Of Ingredients, and Features & Side Effects are all covered in this guide to Buying Over-The-Counter Weight Loss Supplements.