Lose weight fast!: Exposing the truth about diets and the diet industry In today's society Americans are booming, the increase in fast food, large portions and the decrease in physical activity are 34.9% or 78.6 million US adults are obese and millions more are overweight. Obesity causes heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, creating the need to lose weight; this is where the diet industry (CDC.gov) comes in. It seems like every time you connect to the Internet or turn on the television there is an advertisement promising that for an insignificant amount of money you can lose up to 30 pounds in a short amount of time. The diet industry has enormous repercussions on American society and with this kind of power, diet industries should become more accountable, realistic, regulated, providing more reliable information to correct misconceptions about a user's weight loss experience. Eliminating misconceptions about how these weight loss methods are used and their effectiveness is essential to safe and effective weight loss methods. In a study completed in 2008, it was determined that in a representative sample of 3,500 US adults, 33.9% of those reported using dietary supplement products to aid their weight loss attempts. Among users who completed the survey, many mistakenly believed that the dietary supplements used were evaluated by the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) before being marketed to consumers and that dietary supplements were safer than over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription drugs. by prescription (Pillitteri, Shiffman, Rohay). Food supplements are substances that are consumed and are intended to improve one's general health. Dietary supplements can be marketed to treat a variety of ailments such as weight loss… middle of paper… to achieve your health goals. This step improves other aspects of life, which may have been the real source of your weight insecurity. Another step towards health is to abandon diet and intake restriction altogether (Nedic.ca). This method normalizes eating habits and eliminates the potential for frustration and stress. Finally get up and move! According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise is key to losing those extra pounds, but it has other benefits such as the prevention of many serious health conditions and diseases such as diabetes, depression, and even some cancers. (mayoclinic.org) Exercise also improves mood and promotes better sleep, making you more prepared for what life has in store. It is of the utmost importance to seek advice from a healthcare professional regarding personal health before starting a weight loss regime in order to prevent personal injury.