Warning against use of dietary supplements for weight loss

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) experts yesterday warned against the use of dietary supplements as a weight loss tool. They have also advised people to take oral supplements for weight loss only if prescribed by physicians.
“Taking dietary supplements to lose weight is the biggest mistake anyone can make, ” said Dr Buthaina Ibrahim, Senior Consultant - Diabetes and Endocrinology Department and a member of Qatar Metabolic Institute.
“People should be aware of such supplements. They can damage the kidney because it dehydrates the body and can even lead to a kidney failure. It is very serious. If anyone wants to lose weight, they should consult a physician or seek help from a dietitian,” she said speaking at a press conference held at the Hamad bin Khalifa Medical City.
Experts also say that some oral supplements sold as weight loss tools get into the country under the label of dietary supplements.
“Such supplements is a multi billion industry all over the world and the problem is they come as dietary supplements and get approved. There is no restriction on dietary supplements and people bring such things here and sell. It’s a dietary supplement and not a medicine or tool for weight loss and people should understand this,” said Dr Waheeba Al Haj, Consultant, Bariatric Medicine and Surgery at HMC.
“Some such supplements make the person lose water in the body at the beginning or some bacteria will create diarrhea and make people lose some weight, so they think it is working. Also, most of these supplements come as herbal products and people have the misconception that herbals are safe, but herbals have lots of toxins,” she added.
The press conference was held to emphasise the importance of controlling overweight and obesity for healthy kidneys.
“There is a very close relationship between obesity and kidney diseases. If a person has mild renal problems and if he does minor weight loss management, the renal function will become normal. If he is at the stage of dialysis then some medication or surgery is needed. Also, one of the mandatory requirements for renal transplants is to reduce weight,” said Dr Moataz M Bashah, Director, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at HMC.
Regarding bariatric (weight loss) surgeries, he said that the service has been expanded from the Hamad General hospital  to the Al Wakrah Hospital and to the Cuban Hospital.
“We have conducted around 4,000 surgeries so far, but the surgery is not a solution for obesity. It can have an effect for like two years. So the most important fact in losing weight is to modify lifestyle,” he added.