The topic of weight loss is hot. People want to know how they can shed pounds and keep them off for good. The downside of the weight loss boom is that billions of dollars are spent each year on weight loss treatments that have not been adequately studied to substantiate the claims being made.

First, there are creams on the market that claim to reduce cellulite and slim the thighs. The acids in these creams are supposed to tighten the skin and pull collagen fibers back together. The creams claim to eliminate the "dimple" effect and contour the skin.

According to plastic surgeons and other medical experts, there is no cream that can burn fat or reduce the size of fat cells. Though creams may improve the look of your skin, unless you change your diet and add exercise, the fat will remain.

Second, there's lipo-dissolve, which is sometimes called injection lipolysis and frequently confused with mesotherapy. Lipo-dissolve usually involves the injection of drugs known as PCDC or phosphatidylcholine and sodium deoxycholate, which practitioners say 'melts away' fat. This injection fat removal treatment has become exceedingly popular despite the Food and Drug Administration's statement that, "these are unapproved drugs for unapproved uses" and the lack of controlled studies to prove the safety and effectiveness of PCDC. In addition, several medical societies have warned against the treatment. In May 2007, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery warned patients against the use of injection fat loss treatments stating that none have received FDA approval and there have been no published peer-reviewed scientific reports of properly performed prospective clinical trials to confirm safety or efficacy. This is not an alternative to liposuction for people that want to get rid of large amounts of fat. The injections are intended for small problem areas that can't be changed by diet and exercise. Seriously obese people are not candidates for lipo-dissolve.

We've all heard of transdermal patches. They work by leeching medicine through the skin and into the bloodstream over time. The technology has been used for contraceptives, nausea, and smokers trying to kick the nicotine habit. Now, they say it can be applied to weight loss.

The claims are that this patch, worn behind the ear, can cause you to lose weight. It speeds up your metabolism and suppresses the appetite, The transdermal administration technology appears to work, look at Nicotine patches, for example. But it has not been evaluated by the FDA to be effective in weight loss.

Have you heard of seaweed diet and weight loss soap? It's a Chinese soap that claims to firm, tone and contour the skin as well as eliminate the inner fat out of the human body. How does it do this? The truth is, we have no idea. The claim that the soap eliminates fat from the body has not been evaluated by the FDA and has not been adequately studied for effectiveness in weight loss.

What about body wraps? Spas claim that customers will lose several inches in one session. Combine that with several more sessions and your body will shrink before your eyes. What is the easiest weight to lose? You guessed it-water weight. These stimulating wraps will squeeze as much water out of you as they can. The kicker is that while you want to trim ten inches off your thighs, you may see a half or quarter of an inch reduction in each thigh. The ten inches comes from the minuscule losses everywhere else added together.

Diet pills have been a popular weight loss treatment for years. Many diet pills that claim to speed up metabolism contain ephedrine, which comes from the Ma Huang plant. Over time, these pills have been shown to cause heart problems in young patients. Other conditions, including increased heart rate and blood pressure were also noted.

Last, Hoodia is a known appetite suppressant that comes from a plant called hoodia gordonii. The plant is only found in the Kalahari region of Africa. Companies have tried to imitate its effects and are marketing everything from gum to pills to drink mixes with hoodia derivatives. Read the fine print. Most of these diet pills don't contain enough of the hoodia to suppress the appetite.

When considering any type of weight loss treatment, do your homework. You want to be sure that what you are buying is safe and effective and that you aren't stuck in a position having spent sums of money with no weight loss to show for it. Second, watch out for treatments that claim rapid, easy, and quick results. Healthy weight loss is anything but fast. Keep your expectations about weight loss realistic. You can't expect to lose 15 pounds in 2 weeks by taking appetite suppressants. Healthy weight loss involves a balance between proper diet and exercise.