It is estimated that over 80% of world’s population and 60 million Americans use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). However, although many believe CAM compliments their current traditional healthcare, most do not inform their physicians that they are taking these products. And, many providers don’t ask or discuss CAM use with their patients, although one survey of 181 cardiologists found that half of them took antioxidant vitamins, themselves.

What many people don’t realize is that there is no regulatory agency in charge of supplement industry. Herbal products are not tested for purity, effectiveness and safety as drugs are. In 1994, Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was enacted that requires FDA to prove beyond any doubt that a supplement is unsafe before removing it from market. Other than regulating what can be included on label, they are unable to enforce any other regulation.

There is no incentive for supplement companies to conduct research because they are unable to patent ‘natural’ products. Those marketing herbs and other supplements save millions of dollars not spent on research, or worse, yet, conduct their own “research”, which often does not include rigorous controls. Although there are many excellent and reputable supplement companies on market, typical consumer is unlikely to know who credible ones are. Many independent sales representatives only know what company tells them, and are as unaware as consumer.

Even if supplements are pure and not harmful by themselves, problems arise when combined with drugs. Dietary supplements may compete with drugs, leading to toxicity or treatment failure of that drug. An estimated 4 million people are at risk for herbal-prescription drug interactions. Here is a list of most common interactions between supplements and drugs: * Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to prevent blood clotting for those at risk for deep vein thrombosis, stroke, or heart attack. Supplements that can change bleeding time controlled by this drug include flaxseed oil and fish oil supplements, goldenseal, saw palmetto, feverfew, garlic, ginseng, and willow bark, just to name a few.

The cause that gets mostly overlooked is portrayal of men and women in society. Not video games or more fast food restaurants, but way women and men are portrayed by media, movies and television shows over past decade.

There are a few exceptions such as “The Parkers” or “Rosanne” but for most part there is not an obese person on television who is in touch with youth.

When you walk outside and see a billboard of a sexy model in lingerie or turn on television and see another underweight woman or go to movies yet again to see a woman with large breasts and a small waist has to be a large contributor.

Young men and women are forced to look like these models. The ones who can’t do it end up getting depressed, which is a large factor in causing obesity.