Abstract
M.Tech.
It is estimated that 59% of South African adult women and 29% of South African adult men are
overweight (Department of Health, 2004). Significant risks arise from being overweight
including: elevated cholesterol and the development of cardiovascular disease which increases
with a greater gain in weight (Duyff, 2006). There is a lack of sufficient evidence supporting the
safety and efficacy of many of the herbal weight-loss products currently available thus indicating
that more research on herbal products and their efficacy in weight-loss is required (Lenz and
Hamilton, 2004).
The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of a herbal complex (Aloe ferox, Fucus
vesiculosis, Taraxacum officinale and Trigonella foenum– graecum) as an aid in weight loss in
females utilising comparative measurements of the participants’ weight, Body Mass Index
(BMI), body fat percentage and circumferential measurements of their hips, waist, thighs, upper
arms and abdomen.
The study was a quantitative, double blind placebo controlled study. The study involved thirty
overweight female participants (BMI 25.5 - 30 kg/m²) between the ages of twenty and thirty five.
The participants were recruited by means of advertisement posters placed at the University of
Johannesburg, Homoeopathy Health Centre. The participants were randomly divided into two
groups of fifteen. One group received the herbal complex (Aloe ferox, Fucus vesiculosis,
Taraxacum officinale and Trigonella foenum– graecum) and the other group received the
placebo. Participants from both groups attended an initial interview where they were screened by
means of a questionnaire and physical examination, including the measurement of their height
and weight, calculation of their Body Mass Index (BMI) and body fat percentage, as well as the
circumferential measurement of their hips, waist, thighs, upper arms and abdomen. Each
participant was given a weekly diary and instructed to take fifteen drops of the issued medication
three times daily, after meals for the duration of the full eight week study. Participants were
examined, weighed, and the measurement of their body circumference and fat percentage were
recorded every second week for the duration of the eight week study.
Data from each participant was collected and analysed using repeated measures analysis of
variance (ANOVA).
From statistical evaluation, it was determined that the herbal complex (Aloe ferox, Fucus
vesiculosis, Taraxacum officinale and Trigonella foenum– graecum) was ineffective as an aid in
weight loss in females.