'Insufficient evidence' support herbal, dietary supplements

New Zealanders spend tens of millions of dollars every year on over-the-counter herbal and dietary supplements in an attempt to lose weight, but the first global review of complementary medicines for weight loss suggests that their use cannot be justified based on the current evidence. Lead author Erica Bessell, a PhD candidate from the University of Sydney says while some did lead to weight loss, it often wasn't a meaningful amount.