I am often asked if weight loss supplements can be taken by people who are on medication.

On questions like these I always defer to the expertise of those in the medical profession. There are many types of prescription medications for a multitude of ailments, nearly all of which have side effects. Your doctor would be the best one to advise you on which drugs may adversely interact with weight loss supplements.

Certain medications can change the heart rate response to exercise and people using heart rate formulas may have trouble getting their HR in the appropriate zone. However, you can still lose weight while you’re on them. The best thing to do is to have a balanced training program tailored to your particular needs, in consultation with your doctor: one that combines resistance exercise and cardiovascular training, as recommended by the American College Of Sports Medicine, to increase your metabolic rate and help you lose weight. Depending on your body composition and the medication you’re taking, the rate of weight loss may be slow but it’s better than none at all. But, again, consult with your doctor if you are on any type of medication before taking weight loss supplements, and a registered dietitian for help with a healthy weight loss program. Check with the ACSM website http://www.acsm.org?AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home_Page&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=7764 . Scroll down to “Influence” and click on “ Physical Activity Guidelines from ACSM and AHA” for appropriate exercise guidelines for frequency, intensity and duration.