By David Liu, PHD

Sunday April 8, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- The maker of weight loss products under the brand bioslim claims on its website that bioslim diet pills are a medical breakthrough and are the only truly natural, super-effective way to lose weight quickly, safely and permanently (read more on bioslim.com).  But the maker's website does not cite any research evidence to support its claim.

The writer searched www.scholar.google.com and www.pubmed.gov and only found a few of articles on so-called scholar websites (it 's google's fault.  Many sites included in google's scholar database are nothing of scholar.).  Most articles are probably written by sellers or distributors of bioslim and they promote bioslim as a weight loss wonder.

One small trial released in March 2012 showed that bioslim does not help weight loss in any way, even not have any placebo effect.  That is probably the only study ever done for the weight loss diet pills.

The trial reported by Lee, Tzu-Ting involved 87 overweight adults residing in Cape Town who were recruited by advertising in community newspapers and setting up stands at shopping centers.  Participants were assigned to receive one of four treatments for four weeks.  

Four treatments included bioslim tablets given in bioslim packaging (n=26), bioslim in unbranded packaging (n=22), placebo in bioslim packaging (n=17) and placebo in unbranded packaging (n=22). 

Here is what the researcher did

"At baseline, the subjects were given one of the four products and anthropometric measurements (weight, height and skinfold thickness) were taken. After four weeks, these measurements were repeated. The subjects also had to complete a questionnaire regarding their experiences."

Here is what the researcher found

"The body mass index (BMI) for the total population was 31.90 kg/m2 (SD = 3.91) at baseline and 31.89 kg/m2 (SD = 3.92) at follow-up. None of the measured anthropometric variables had changed significantly after four weeks. When the total study group sample was analysed, based on the allocated drug treatment groups (active or placebo), neither group showed significant weight loss from baseline to follow-up. Twenty-three subjects from the Bioslim group and 21 from the unbranded group reported exercising during the trial. The total group’s exercise time correlated significantly with fat-mass reduction (r = -0.31, p = 0.004). Furthermore, when data was analysed separately for the active and placebo groups, the active group showed a significant correlation (r = -0.45, p = 0.0012), while the placebo group showed an insignificant correlation (r = -0.05, p = 0.77). The same was not reflected in weight loss (r = -0.007, p = 0.95)."

In the study, the researcher reported one subject withdrew from the study because of side effects such as severe headaches and heart palpitations.

Here is what the researcher concluded

"Bioslim is an ineffective weight-loss supplement: subjects receiving active pills evidenced no significant beneficial changes in weight, waist circumference or body composition."

On consumeraffairs.com, 22 consumers complained about bioslim.  Almost all complaints are about billing issues, none of them said a good word about the efficacy of the weight loss products.  Many said they were offered free samples, but they either did not receive samples or received free samples but money was taken from their credit cards without their express authorization.

Jutta of Belgian Gardens complained on consumeraffairs.com on March 31, 2012 that 

"I ordered the Bioslim Mango and BioCleanse samples from the Bioslim website and did not realize that they were coming from the USA. They took over a month to arrive after ordering in mid-February. I returned the BioCleanse through the post to the US. Both samples arrived opened (in customs?) and crushed. I have not received any further products even though my Visa account has been debited. Is this a scam or are the products I have been charged for sitting in customs?"

From its website, the bioslim maker seems to acknowledge that people who use bioslim need to follow "the easy, healthful BioSlim food plan and implement the doctor's easy lifestyle suggestions."

That is to suggest that the bioslim may be exactly the same as many other weight loss diet plans in that they all require the weight losers to follow some dietary plan.  What really works is the dietary plan, not the diet products.  This is like you sell flavored water to help people lose weight. But you also tell customers that they need to follow a dietary plan to enhance the weight loss effect. That is, as always, you will have to cut your intake of calories to disrupt the normal absorption of nutrients to induce weight loss.

Those who are in desperate needs for a weight loss solution need to re-consider their strategy.   For one thing, they should never try any weight loss products that have not been subject to clinical studies.

One good thing for obese and overweight people to do is watch what their lean friends eat and do and try to follow their friends' diet and lifestyle, which may be more helpful than weight loss pills on the market, a health observer suggested.

Does any of our readers us bioslim weight loss pills?  Send us your comments or complaints.