According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 40 percent of adults in the United States consumed dietary supplements between the years 1988 and 1994. Between the years 2003 and 2006, over 50 percent of U.S. adults consumed the supplements. Adults see these dietary supplements as quick fixes and an easy and simple way to lose weight. They are marketed as doing the work on their own, so the user doesn’t have to change their lifestyle. But many dietary supplements are not regulated, therefore it is not always clear what is in them.

A study by the federal government found that injuries from these supplements lead to over 20,000 emergency room visits a year. Many of these visits are for cardiovascular issues, allergic reactions and nausea and vomiting. This study was led by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They analyzed data from emergency room visits within hospitals across the country over a 10-year period, specifically data on dietary supplement related visits. The dietary supplements taken were made of herbs, substances and sometimes toxic chemicals.

The study did not state the number of deaths from these substances, although there have been reports in other studies of deaths from diet pills.