Lipozene by Obesity Research Institute LLC.

Lipozene, the newest pill from Obesity Research Institute LLC, offers the usual... weight loss without a whole lot of work.

Lipozene is also an "As Seen On TV" product. The biggest "scam" weight loss products are the ones sold via radio and TV advertisements.

That's because it's the easiest way for manufacturers to isolate themselves from the consumer and avoid accountability for their products.

A quick search on the internet will pull up hundreds if not thousands of comments from disgruntled purchasers of lipozene and other Obesity Research Institute Products.

Main ingredient: glucomannan (actually its the only ingredient)

Glucomannan is an unabsorbable polysaccharide derived from the konjac root. Several clinical studies validate glucomannan's ability to lower LDL cholesterol and blood lipid levels -- as well as blood sugar levels. There also appears to be some preliminary evidence that 1 gram of glucomannan, taken with 8 oz. of water one hour prior to meals, has a significant influence on weight loss (one study showed almost 6 pounds of fat lost in two months -- with no changes in eating habits). (Int J Obes. 1984;8(4):289-93., Diabetes Care. 1999 Jun;22(6):913-9., Minerva Med. 1992 Mar;83(3):135-9)

Glucomannan is an interesting supplement, but it is basically a fiber supplement. Don't get me wrong -- adding fiber to your diet is not only a great way to lose weight, it improves regularity and can even lower cholesterol levels. For instance...

Nancy Howarth, a nutritionist from Tuft's University in Boston, suggests people who add an extra 14 grams per day to their diet could expect to lose 4 pounds and decrease food intake by 10% in 4 months. Basically, fiber fills you up faster, and keeps you feeling full longer.

Best of all, adding fiber to your diet is actually quite easy to do (just add a serving of Kellogg's All Bran to your daily routine), since the typical low quality North American diet does not contain nearly enough fiber. The average North American consumes 15 grams of fiber daily -- 10 grams less than the minimum recommended amount of 25 grams. Adding fiber to your diet is probably one of the most cost effective ways to improve your diet and overall health.

There are several problems with this product so we refuse to recommend it.

The maker of this product, Obesity Research Institute LLC, has a real credibility problem. They've been charged by the Federal Trade Commission for making false and unsubstantiated claims and forced to pay $1.5 million in customer redress. This is for the products Propolene and Fiberslim, both of which are based upon the ingredient glucomannan. This doesn't bode well for Lipozene.

If you'd like to review the Federal Trade Commission press release for this action, click here!

Fiber is useful, but its effects are subtle and are best seen over the long term. Better yet, it's both cheap and easy to add fiber to your diet without expensive supplements like Lipozene. Add a serving of high-fiber cereal to your diet each day, and replace some of the high starch carbs in your diet with high fiber fruits and vegetables.