The natural dietary supplement CLA (for conjugated linoleic acid) has been shown in a clinical study to actually reduce body fat in people who are overweight. The research was recently published in the journal of the American Society for Nutritional Sciences.

In the Scandinavian study, 60 overweight people took various doses of a CLA supplement or placebo for 12 weeks. They had the option to moderate their food intake or undertake light exercise, but it was not required. Those in the CLA group lost an average of 6 pounds of fat. The researchers determined that 3.4 grams of CLA a day was the proper amount to produce beneficial effects on body fat.

Importantly, the subjects lost fat while retaining muscle mass, which is considered key to a successful weight loss program.

Source:  Gudmundsen O, Wadstein J. J of Nutrition, Dec. 2000.