Ephedra industry offers to help in educating the military

A new report by the American Obesity Association which claims that 54 per cent of US military personnel are overweight and a further 6.2 per cent are obese has prompted the Ephedra Education Council there to offer to educate the military on the benefits of the weight-loss herb.

In an open letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the Council said it was "eager to support the military leadership in an effort to educate personnel on the issue of appropriate consumption of ephedra products"​.

The letter continued: "Sound scientific research continues to show that ephedra dietary supplements are safe and beneficial for weight loss when used as directed, and internationally recognised weight loss experts have pointed out that ephedra products are among the most effective weight loss options on the market."​

The ephedra industry has nonetheless been rocked by a number of claims that the dietary supplement had caused adverse effects and even death, despite the large body of evidence showing its safety.

So far the government has sat on the fence, refusing to endorse the product as safe but also declining to ban it outright, preferring instead to launch further investigations into the product. In the light of this, the US Defense Department is unlikely to make such a bold step as to effectively endorse the product for weight loss among military personnel.

The Ephedra Education Council nonetheless urged the authorities not to bow to "consumer group pressure or press reports"​ and to allow armed forces personnel to make their own, informed choice about products which are still legally available to their civilian counterparts.

Perhaps encouraging obliging personnel to take a few more turns around the obstacle course would be the best way for the Army to avoid any controversy?