Before turning to drastic measures, such as
weight loss surgery, many people consider using
weight loss pills, especially if they have unsuccessfully tried to control their obesity through diet and exercise. One supplement that is often claimed to help people lose weight is
conjugated linoleic acid (
CLA), a naturally occurring fatty acid found in dairy and meat products.
Current research suggests that a lack of conjugated linoleic acid may send signals to the body to store fat. However, more research is necessary to say with certainty if this supplement is truly effective for weight loss.
For example, there is some evidence that certain forms of conjugated linoleic acid can make the body more resistant to
insulin, which can increase the risk of
diabetes in certain people. In addition, some forms of conjugated linoleic acid may lower
HDL cholesterol ("
good cholesterol") and increase inflammatory proteins, both of which are especially undesirable in people who are obese.
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