Why weight-loss supplements flood local market

DAR ES SALAAM: FOR some Tanzanians struggling with excess weight, the journey towards a slimmer body no longer begins with a pair of running shoes.

Increasingly, it starts with a bottle of supplements, a packet of weight-loss pills or a product advertised online with promises of quick results.

The attraction is easy to understand. Exercise requires time, discipline and consistency, while weight-loss products are often marketed as a convenient solution for people eager to see changes without spending long hours at the gym or on the running track.

For Ms Fatuma Juma of Dar es Salaam, a demanding work schedule made regular exercise difficult.

“With the nature of my work, exercising is very difficult because my schedule is very demanding, and that is why I decided to use weightloss supplements,” she said.

Her first attempt at exercising failed because she could not remain consistent. “I once tried exercising, but I was not consistent.

I realised that I was not going to succeed that way, but when I saw that there were supplements I could use while continuing with my work, I felt that I had found a solution,” Ms Juma said.

For Ms Naomi Masanja, the motivation was different. Dissatisfaction with her appearance, coupled with seeing other people promote weightloss supplements, persuaded her to try them.

“I was tired of how I looked, and when I saw many people showing that food supplements were working, I decided to try them. Honestly, they have helped me a lot,” she said.

In Dar es Salaam, weightloss supplement seller Ms Neema Ashley said such frustrations bring many customers to her, particularly those who have tried other approaches without achieving the results they expected.

“The products I sell are natural supplements, and in many cases, a person can start seeing good results and lose weight within 10 days of using them,” she said.

However, Ms Ashley said customers must follow advice on diet and other lifestyle habits if they expect results.

“You cannot use the products and, at the same time, continue drinking alcohol and expect to get the desired results. You have to follow the things we advise you to avoid,” she said.

Mr John Mapolo, another distributor of weight-loss supplements, also acknowledged that products alone are not enough.

“The products I sell must be used together with a good diet and exercise because all these things are important for having a healthy and strong body,” he said.

But while some consumers report positive experiences, others have encountered problems.

Ms Jovita Apolo stopped using weight-loss medication after developing severe stomach problems that kept her away from work for three days.

“After taking the medicine at night, I started experiencing stomach pain and persistent diarrhoea about six hours later. This made me stop using the medicine because, for three days, I was unable to work and spent all my time indoors,” she said.

Her experience raises an important question about the growing appetite for weightloss products: How much attention do consumers give to safety compared with the promise of rapid results?

Dr Berno Mwambe of Massana Hospital said the desire to see the weighing scale drop quickly can overshadow concerns about possible complications associated with weight-loss medicines.

“Many people who use these medicines do not know that, in the long run, they can cause complications affecting the body, including the liver, kidneys, heart or blood. That is why we strongly advise people to lose weight through exercise and a healthy diet,” he said.

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes obesity as a chronic, complex disease influenced by factors including genetics, eating behaviour, physical activity, access to healthy food, environments and wider social conditions.

WHO has also recognised the role of medicines in obesity treatment. In December 2025, it issued its first global guideline on GLP-1 therapies for adults living with obesity, including liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide.

The guidance places such medicines within comprehensive obesity care, alongside healthy eating, physical activity and behavioural support, rather than presenting them as replacements for lifestyle measures.

In Tanzania, the growing visibility of weight-loss products in supplement shops, through individual sellers and on digital platforms means consumers are encountering more choices than ever.

Behind that expanding market are people like Juma, who struggles to exercise because of work, Masanja, who wants to change her appearance, and Apolo, whose experience ended with troubling side effects.

Their stories show that the attraction of weight-loss products is not always simply about avoiding exercise.

For some, it is about time, frustration, appearance and the hope that there is an easier way. But the promise of a quick transformation can leave consumers facing a more difficult question: Whether the shortcut they have chosen is also helping them achieve better health.

For sustainable weight management, the journey may ultimately require more than a product promising rapid results.

It may require healthier eating, regular physical activity, informed choices and professional guidance. The shortcut may promise a slimmer body. The greater challenge is making sure the journey also leads to better health.