User blogs

Underbites, overbites and teeth that are crooked, crowded or have large gaps can all be treated with braces. There are just as many options in braces as there are problems they solve.

Parents of today had far less choice as teenagers; it was just the standard metal braces available back then. Now, their children can be fitted with a range of different options in braces.

Orthodontist have developed new treatments over the years to improve the aesthetics of braces. But choosing the right treatment method takes time and careful consideration.

Types of Braces

The most commonly used types of braces are:

Metal Braces

These are the traditional braces made of high-quality stainless steel. An arch wire is attached to brackets on the teeth which provides even pressure to move teeth in the correct direction.

Ceramic Braces

Using tooth-coloured ceramic brackets rather than metal and a white wire, ceramic braces are an appealing option for many patients. Also called clear braces, ceramic braces are virtually invisible. They are a popular choice for adults who prefer the subtle look compared to metal braces. Ceramics are also ideal for patients that like to have their photo taken or will attend important events while they are wearing braces.

Lingual Braces

Also called inside braces, lingual braces are custom made brackets designed to fit the contour on the inside of each tooth. A wire joins the brackets together and pulls the teeth into position by pulling from the inside. Just as effective as standard outside braces, however they take longer to fit as each bracket needs to be custom made. Appointments with lingual braces may also need to be more frequent and take longer than traditional braces.Lingual braces may also be more challenging to keep clean and may affect the speech in some patients.

Lingual braces are most common amongst adults who are self conscious of how they will look with traditional braces, particularly in the workplace. Lingual braces are virtually undetectable but users may need to wear elastic bands which people can see.

Invisalign

Invisalign is one of the newest options available. The patient wears a series of custom plastic trays for two weeks each which slowly move the teeth into the preferred position. The aligners are virtually invisible and are more comfortable to wear with no metal parts to rub against gums and inside the mouth. The patient doesn‘t need to make any changes to their diet and can clean their teeth as they always have because the Invisalign retainers are removed for eating and cleaning.

Which One Should you Choose?

It’s not just the aesthetics of the braces that will determine which one you choose. There are a few factors you should consider including cost, hygiene and the final result.

Aesthetics

In our experience, some patients worry unnecessarily about how they will look with braces. They can remain self conscious about the braces long after everyone else has forgotten about them. But if the look of the braces is a concern for you, then consider lingual or ceramic braces that are invisible or hardly noticeable.

So you’ve got the right paints, the best brushes and canvases as far as the eye can see – all you need now is the perfect artists easel and you’re ready to create your first masterpiece! Whether you’re working in a studio space, spare room or the kitchen, a reliable easel can be a valuable piece of studio equipment. A good easel can help your posture and offers you a dedicated painting space. There’ll be no more clearing the dining table before you begin painting!

Artists easels come in all shapes and sizes – from large, sturdy studio easels to portable easels to take on your painting trips. You may have never used an easel before, even if you have been painting for a long time. Many artists come to use them first in a college or tutoring setting. Other artists may find that they do not need an easel at all. The most important thing to consider when selecting your easel is practicality. We’ll introduce you to the different types of easels that we stock, and give you some hints and tips that will help you select an easel that is best for you.

Before you buy your first easel it’s important to think about what you need from one. Where will you use your easel? What size is your work? Which painting mediums do you use? What is your painting style like? Are you comfortable standing at an easel or would you need to sit down? Do you have any accessibility issues that need to be taken into consideration? These are all questions you will need to ask yourself that will help you narrow down your choices.

Easels offer different benefits to different artists. Some artists that use easels find that their painting process is much freer. The distance between you and the easel allows for more freedom of movement. There won’t be the restriction to making movements just from the wrist. This is beneficial for artists who favour a loose, energetic style of painting. If you do paint energetically it would be wise to consider buying as sturdy an easel as you can afford. A wooden studio easel would be able to withstand the energy of your movements. A lightweight metal easel would be more unstable. If you are working on a small scale with delicate strokes this wouldn’t be as much of a problem. You will still need your easel to be sturdy, but you could get away with using a more lightweight version.

The environment in which you wish to paint will affect your choice of easel. If you are painting outdoors you will need something compact and portable. If you have a large studio then you may have more space for a sturdier easel. In a spare room you may need to move or store your easel when not in use. You will need something lightweight or even collapsible. Painting in a communal area may mean that you are only able to work from an table mountable easel.

Easels can only hold surfaces up to a maximum height. This is something you will need to double check before you make a purchase. The weight of your work may also be a factor you need to consider. Although most easels will hold canvases of a considerable weight, artists who work with large amounts of mediums, thick paint and collage may need to double check that their paintings do not go above this weight. If you regularly paint work on weighty canvas you would probably be best investing in a heavier studio easel.

Laser marking is the process of permanently marking a surface using a focused beam of light. It can be performed using different types of lasers, including fiber lasers, CO2 lasers, pulsed lasers, and continuous lasers. The three most common laser marking applications are:

• Laser engraving: creates deep and permanent marks that withstand abrasion

• Laser etching: creates high-contrast permanent marks at a high speed

• Laser annealing: generates marks under the surface without affecting the base metal or its protective coating

Laser marking can mark a variety of materials such as steel, aluminum, stainless steel, polymers, and rubber. It is often used to identify parts and products with 2D barcodes (data matrix codes or QR codes), alphanumerical serial numbers, VIN numbers, and logos.

How Does Laser Marking Work?

To create a lasting mark, laser marking systems generate focused beams of light that contain high levels of energy. When a laser beam hits a surface, its energy is transferred in the form of heat, creating black, white, and sometimes colored marks.

The Science of Lasers Explained

Laser beams are generated by a reaction known as LASER, an acronym for “Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation”.

First, a special material is stimulated with energy, making it release photons. The newly released photons then stimulate the material again, generating more and more photons. This creates an exponential number of photons (or light energy) in the laser cavity.

This energy build up is released as a single, coherent beam of light that is directed at its target using mirrors. Based on the energy level, it can etch, engrave, or anneal surfaces with extreme precision.

Different Lasers to Mark Different Materials

Laser light energy is measured using wavelengths, or nanometers (nm). Specific wavelengths are used for different applications and can only be generated by certain types of lasers.

• Fiber lasers stimulate a rare-earth metal known as ytterbium to generate photons on the 1,064 nm wavelength. This wavelength is ideal to mark metals, as a good quantity of its energy is absorbed by the material.

• CO2 lasers stimulate CO2 gas to generate wavelengths between 9,000 nm and 11,000 nm, covering a wide range of organic materials that require different wavelengths. The most common wavelength for organic materials is 10,600 nm.

Laser Marking Benefits

Laser marking has become the technology of choice for manufacturers looking for high-quality marking, offering a multitude of advantages compared to older marking methods like dot peen marking, inkjet printing, and printed labels.

Welding is one type of manufacturing process by which two or more similar or dissimilar materials can be joined permanently by weld bead formation with or without the application of external pressure, heat or filler material. There exist different types of welding processes, each of them follows unique procedure to weld two or more components. Welding processes can be broadly classified as arc welding, gas welding, resistance welding, solid state welding and intense energy beam welding. Each of these class once again consists of several welding processes. Irrespective of the welding process, a weld bead formation is always desired to join the components by welding. This weld bead forms at the intersection of two components that are welded. It is also worth mentioning that fusion of the faying surfaces of the parent components is not necessary for weld bead formation. In some welding processes, the faying surfaces are fused with the application of heat to get the weld bead, while in other processes, weld bead can be obtained without melting the faying surfaces. On the basis of whether base materials are fused or not, welding processes can be broadly classified into two groups—solid state welding and fusion welding.

In all such welding processes where the faying surfaces of parent components along with the filler material are fused to form the weld bead are called fusion welding. Sufficient heat must be applied by external means for properly fusing the faying surfaces of base metals as well as the filler metal. Thus phase change (solid to liquid and once again liquid to solid) occurs in fusion welding. All arc welding, gas welding, resistance welding and intense energy beam welding processes are fusion welding. On the other hand, if no such melting takes place during welding, then it is termed as solid state welding. Here the joining takes place in solid state and no phase change occurs. However, in solid state welding, parent components may be heated to an elevated temperature but substantially below the melting point of the concerned material (and thus no melting occurs). Instead of external heat, application of pressure is usually necessary for this type of welding. Roll welding, diffusion welding, friction welding, etc. are considered as solid state welding processes. Following passages elaborate similarities and differences between fusion welding and solid state welding.

The capabilities of these induction systems allow us to offer solutions for a wide array of applications, including soldering, brazing, heat treating, bonding, melting, crystal growing, hardening, annealing, and shrink fitting.

We also offer induction heating equipment and high frequency induction heaters for curing adhesives. We are able to provide turn-key solutions from our standard product line and equipped with a complete induction heating laboratory for testing and developing solutions for our customer’s important processes. RDO also has the ability to design and develop custom power supplies & industrial heating machines based on requirements specific to the customer’s application, which can be stand-alone or embedded systems.

Thyristors are an interesting class of semiconductor devices. They share similar characteristics with other solid-state components made from silicon, like diodes and transistors. Therefore, distinguishing thyristors from diodes and transistors could be difficult. To add to the difficulty, there are different types of thyristors available on the market.

In some instances, what sets thyristors apart from one another could be just a tiny detail.

Also, depending on the manufacturer, a given thyristor may be known by another name.

To apply thyristors successfully when designing circuits, it is important to know their unique characteristics, limitations, and their relationship with the circuit. That’s why we’re taking some time to sort it all out so that you can have a better understanding of what thyristor is most suitable for your application.

A thyristor is a four-layer device with alternating P-type and N-type semiconductors (P-N-P-N).

In its most basic form, a thyristor has three terminals: anode (positive terminal), cathode (negative terminal), and gate (control terminal). The gate controls the flow of current between the anode and cathode.

The primary function of a thyristor is to control electric power and current by acting as a switch. For such a small and lightweight component, it offers adequate protection to circuits with large voltages and currents (up to 6000 V, 4500 A).

It is attractive as a rectifier because it can switch rapidly from a state of conducting current to a state of non-conduction.

In addition, its cost of maintenance is low and, operating under the right conditions, remains functional in the long term without developing a fault.

Thyristors are used in a wide range of electric circuits, from simple burglar alarms to power transmission lines.

A thyristor with a P-N-P-N structure has three junctions: PN, NP, and PN. If the anode is a positive terminal with respect to the cathode, the outer junctions, PN and PN are forward-biased, while the center NP junction is reverse-biased. Therefore, the NP junction blocks the flow of a positive current from the anode to cathode. The thyristor is said to be in a forward blocking state. Similarly, the flow of a negative current is blocked by the outer PN junctions. The thyristor is in a reverse blocking state.

Another state a thyristor can exist in is the forward conducting state, whereby it receives a sufficient signal to switch on, and it starts conducting.

Let’s take a minute to highlight the unique properties thyristors bring to a circuit by going further into the nature of the signal and the thyristor’s response.

When it comes to security fencing, one of the best options is welded wire mesh fencing. Its durable and secure design provides you with everything you need for every situation. Here, Weld mesh Fencing Exporter details 5 advantages of choosing welded wire mesh fence.

Strength

Welded Wire Mesh Fencing is made of steel for durability and immovable stability. The welded wire mesh is designed to ensure maximum resilience to climbing or damage by potential intruders. It is also tough enough to withstand the impact of large animals and vehicles without the usual damage that other fence types suffer.

Weather Friendly

Its lightweight design allows wind to pass through the panels, reducing the chance of any damage caused by strong winds or stormy weather conditions. This results in very little maintenance after installation.

Visibility

This type of fence can be used in conjunction with other security measures such as closed circuit television. Ideal for schools, businesses and many environments where maximum security is required and the perimeter can be surveyed.

Easy for viewers to see

The gaps created through safety net fencing provide spectators of sporting events the opportunity to watch and support from behind the fence without disturbing the game or players.

Low Maintenance

Welded wire mesh fencing is manufactured to withstand regular use, be easy to maintain, and last with minimal maintenance and repairs.

If you are considering the option of welded wire mesh fencing then please contact us and we will be happy to give you a quote and help you further. In addition, the company also offers Anti-Climb Fence, so please feel free to contact us if you need any.

Weld mesh is constructed from durable steel wire which is electronically welded at each contact point resulting in a terrifically strong and versatile material. Our steel weld mesh is electronically welded at each intersection making it suitable for a huge range of demanding applications. It is virtually unbreakable and very easy to fabricate, and as a result, it is used to create a variety of safety guards and screens.

It has many uses in both indoor and outdoor applications and is regularly used in industries ranging from agriculture, transport and construction to retail and horticulture.

On a domestic level welded mesh can be used as a cost-effective fencing material, impact screen for windows or as safety covers for drains and open water.

Welded mesh offers a flat surface which maintains a firm structure and can provide support or protection to other goods. Common uses for welded wire mesh, or steel mesh include:

• Safety covers

• Fencing and cages

• Stairways and balustrading

• Catwalks

• Large scale construction projects

• Anti-theft screens

• Shelving

• Fishing traps

• Concrete reinforcement

Our weld mesh panels are available in a lightly copper coated self-colour which protects against rust or a galvanised finish which has a greater degree of protection although it cannot be fabricated.

The application of factory cut & bend reinforcement has foreseen adaptability owing to the increased need for speed and better quality. Welded wire mesh has been quite useful in addressing this issue. Welded wire mesh is a great reinforcement component for concrete structures. It is an electric fusion welded prefabricated joined grid consisting of a series of parallel longitudinal wires with accurate spacing welded to cross wires at the required spacing. Welded wire mesh is a steel reinforcement material in concrete. The mesh is used for replacing the traditional “cut & bend” and placing of steel thermo-mechanically treated bars. These are made from reinforcing wire, located in two mutually perpendicular directions and connected at the intersection of resistance spot welding. Welded Wire Mesh is a need of the hour in developing countries like India.

Projects must adopt this technique owing to space constraints in setting up cutting, bending and storage yards at the site and speed up the installation process. Provisions exist in the Indian Standards that support the use of Welded Wire Mesh through advice regarding their design and detailing. The welded wire mesh is a metal screen that is made up of low carbon steel wire or stainless steel wire. It is available in various sizes and shapes. The welded wire mesh can be customized for various shapes. Metal can be equipped with special coatings that improve the surfaces to be resistant to chemicals and other corrosive substances.

Since the germicidal properties of sunlight were discovered over 100 years ago, ultraviolet (UV) light technology has been adapted for cleaning and sanitizing. Take advantage of UV light’s germ-killing properties in your Harleysville, Pennsylvania, home by installing a UV lamp on your air conditioner or air purifier. Here’s how a UV lamp protects your home from invisible, airborne invaders.

UV light is invisible to the human eye, but if we could see it, it would come after violet on the light spectrum, hence the name “ultraviolet” light. One of the ways UV light is different from the light we can see is the way its high frequency affects organisms, such as bacteria and mold. UV light can disrupt these nasties at a cellular level, making them unable to reproduce. That’s what makes UV light useful for decontamination.

There are three different wavelengths of UV light: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. Only UV-C light, which has the highest frequency, can be used to eliminate bacteria and mold.

The sun produces all three types of UV light naturally. As the sun’s rays reach the Earth, UV-A and UV-B light pass through the atmosphere, but highest frequency UV-C light is filtered out. It’s a good thing too, because UV-C light is harmful to living things. Its ability to destroy living cells is what makes it dangerous and useful at the same time.

A UV lamp artificially creates UV light so it can be put to various uses, such as sterilizing and purifying. UV lamps come in many different sizes and shapes, allowing them to be used for various purposes, such as detecting counterfeit money, inspecting artwork, or by a ticket agent checking your re-entry stamp at a concert.

A UV lamp is different from a regular lamp because it’s typically made of quartz instead of glass. Inside, there is an inert gas mixed with mercury. When the lamp is plugged in, electricity reacts with the mercury, and the lamp produces UV light. The type of UV light emitted depends on the pressure inside the lamp. Not all UV lamps produce the UV-C germ-killing wavelength.

The coils on the HVAC equipment in your home — such as an air conditioner or air purifier — are prone to the buildup of harmful bacteria and mold. When these coils aren’t cleaned properly, airborne contaminants circulate into your home. This makes it uncomfortable for family members with respiratory problems, and it can aggravate allergies or asthma and also cause sickness. Using a UV lamp to sterilize the coils on your HVAC equipment has been proven to improve indoor air quality.

Most of the UV lamps in HVAC equipment are “stick type” lamps that can be installed inside the equipment and wired into the same electricity as the HVAC unit itself.

It is important to install the UV lamp where it will do your unit the most good. That means selecting a place where the UV light will shine directly on the unit’s coils. The parts of your HVAC unit that are not directly in the UV light will still grow contaminants.

Some HVAC units are manufactured with UV lamps already in place, but others can be retrofitted with a UV lamp. A professional HVAC technician can install a UV lamp in your HVAC equipment.

Do I Need to Maintain a UV Lamp?

The longer a UV lamp is used, the less effective its germ-killing becomes. Replacement of UV lamps in HVAC equipment is recommended every year. You can have the bulb in your UV lamp replaced at the same time as the annual maintenance on your HVAC equipment is completed.

Using a UV lamp to improve the indoor air quality in your Harleysville home is simple and effective. New Age Air provides indoor air quality solutions, including air cleaning units as well as UV lamps. Call 610-298-0271 to speak to a New Age Air representative about your indoor air quality needs today.

When purchasing an outfit, we know we’re making much more than a fashion statement. For better or for worse, we’re also making an environmental impact. That’s why, when it comes to clothing and fabric, we believe in quality over quantity. And what better way to prioritise quality – and the environment – than by choosing sustainable textiles and eco-friendly fabric?

Sustainable fabrics offer loads of benefits for the planet, your wardrobe, and even your bank account. We’re going to dive into questions like “what are sustainable fabrics?” and “is cotton biodegradable?” But first, let’s discuss what sustainable fabric really is.

Because it uses a lot of water, pesticides, and takes up land which could otherwise be used for crops, cotton is not often considered as sustainable. That is, unless it’s organic cotton! Organic and sustainable cotton is a very in-demand fabric choice when it comes to ethical shopping. It’s grown and manufactured in a way that minimizes the environmental impact and supports livelihoods and communities.

Is cotton biodegradable? Yes! Since it’s a natural fabric, this sustainable textile is completely biodegradable.

Another sought-after sustainable clothing material is viscose, but again, this depends on how it’s made!

Viscose is a semi-synthetic type of rayon fabric made from wood pulp and is often used as a substitute for silk. Viscose such as Lyocell, Tencel, Modal, and Refibra are made from sustainable forests and have a much kinder chemical process which doesn’t use nasty chemicals. The process to make Lyocell is actually completely waste-free, for example, as every biproduct is recycled in some way. This sustainable material is absorbent, lightweight, breathable, and soft.

Is viscose biodegradable? Yes, it is! While viscose is not the eco-friendliest material out there, it’s a great biodegradable fabric compared to acrylic, nylon, and polyester.

Sustainable fashion materials are very durable and built to last, making them easy to care for! There should be no issue using a machine to wash your sustainable items, but always be sure to check the tags to be on the safe side. Unless the tags say otherwise, opt for a mild detergent when cleaning your clothes. And, if you want to give your garments a special treatment, try Ultimate Care Fresh Skies.

Fabric conditioner is also sustainable as it helps keep your clothes like new – reducing the need to replace them! Added in the final stage of the washing process, Comfort coats the fibres of your clothes and helps to keep them soft, smelling great, and able to retain their shape and colour. It helps to keep them from bobbling and makes them easy to iron, and with less static. Not only will you be taking extra care of your clothes with this 100% recycled fabric conditioner, but you’ll also be taking extra care of the environment.

Now that you have a better understanding of what it means to shop for sustainable fabric, you can make more informed, mindful decisions when buying clothes. Whether it be asking “is viscose biodegradable?” or figuring out what certifications to look for on a tag, you’re already one step closer to improving your wardrobe and our beautiful blue planet.

Summer is now rapidly approaching, and all around us, we see the reemergence of outdoor activity. The beaches are becoming more crowded and public pools have shed their winter tarps. While stores have begun to line their shelves with the newest swimwear fashion. But, whether you know it or not, those swimsuits wouldn’t be nearly as stylish or practical without one important material, stretch fabrics. Stretch fabrics can actually be found throughout your everyday life, often allowing you to go about your day in comfort. While stretch fabrics are an important piece of your life, they tend to go overlooked. So instead, let’s dive into a deeper understanding of just what goes into this special fabric, and why it all matters.

In the 1960s, DuPont, a chemical company, developed a new process for manufacturing fabrics that could stretch without damaging its structural integrity. What DuPont created was stretch knit fabrics, a malleable yet durable fabric that could easily be distorted, only to return to its original form. Where stretch fabrics differ from woven fabrics is the knit pattern that uses interlaced loops, compared to the grid pattern of fibers that can be found in woven materials.

This new innovation was originally exclusively used in producing swimwear and women’s bras. However, its knit designed, coupled with naturally elastic fibers, made stretch knit the fabric of choice for many athletes. In the mid-1980s, a major shift occurred when designers began to incorporate stretch fabrics into mainstream fashion. Today, you can still find stretch fabrics in swimwear as well as countless other products, everything from leotards to blue jeans. If you go for a run, chances are your entire outfit is made from stretch fabrics, even your running shoes. If you’re relaxing at home in your jeans and sweatshirt, there are actually stretch fibers in those items too.

The term ‘intermediate’ comes from the volume that intermediate bulk containers carry, which sits in between that of tanks and drums. The two most common volumes of the rigid IBC are 275 gallons and 330 gallons.

Common Uses

IBCs are used for the transport and storage of:

• Chemicals

• Solvents

• Pharmaceuticals

• Liquids

• Food ingredients

• Sand

• Grains

Intermediate bulk containers have all also been used in unique areas such as aquaponics, general bulk storage, and the collecting of rainwater for drinking or harvesting.

Whenever you are working with fasteners, you want to be sure you have a strong, durable rivet or bolt that is suited to the job. Blind threaded inserts are among the most versatile types of fasteners, and there are thousands of types from which to choose. Choosing the right threaded insert depends on the nature of the materials you are working with and the application.

What’s a Threaded Insert?

A threaded insert is a sleeve with a threaded interior that can accept a bolt or threaded fastener. The insert can have different dimensions, be made of different materials, and come in different configurations or tooling; its design will hold fast in thin or soft materials, making the threaded fastener secure.

If you have devices that need to be disassembled and reassembled or that use particularly soft materials, threaded inserts offer a number of advantages, especially if the connection is load-bearing. Flexible plastics, for example, have difficulty holding a threaded bolt because the threads in the tap hole aren’t durable enough. Rather than relying on threads drilled into the soft workpiece itself, a threaded insert gives you more strength and more versatility and tends to be more resilient over time.

Designed with Automation in Mind

Blind threaded inserts can be installed from one side, enabling faster installation, especially in a production line. They offer a stronger alternative to weld nuts and tapped holes, and they provide a stronger bond than self-tapping screws. In fact, threaded inserts are usually the strongest and least time-consuming fasteners used in any manufacturing setting, especially because they were designed for automation.

Threaded inserts have ribbed walls that offer greater strength under load. They can be used at virtually any stage of production, including after a workpiece is painted or coated, because they don’t require reworking once they are installed. That’s why blind threaded inserts have become so popular in applications such as aerospace, defense, transportation, clean energy, medical applications, and electronics.

There are a variety of different types of threaded inserts, each with a different design for a specific application.

• Rivet nut inserts, sometimes referred to as blind rivet nuts, can be installed from one side of a joint and have a counter-threaded interior designed to accept a bolt. Some rivet nuts will bulb on the blind side to create a solid connection. Others are designed to pull the rivet nut into the sleeve as they are tightened.
  Rivet nuts were first used to connect thick-walled materials in the 1930s, when RIVNUT® fasteners came into extensive use in aerospace manufacturing. When securing metal, thick-wall threaded inserts are often used. These are the most common types of inserts and come with both ribbed and knurled bodies, as well as smooth bodies in round, hexagonal, semi-hexagonal, and other shapes. They are made of different materials and come in different shapes, including large and small flanged heads, open and closed-end, and other designs.
  Thin-walled inserts came later in round, hexagonal, and square designs. These inserts offer added versatility, such as using sealant under the head or special plating for greater durability in harsh conditions.
  They also come in a knurled body design for a better grip on the material. For thicker fiberglass materials, such as those used in boatbuilding, knurled inserts are often used to minimize corrosion.
  

• Eurostyle inserts are round-body threaded inserts with semi-hexagonal, fully hexagonal, heavy hexagonal, or square body designs. They are available from a variety of manufacturers, including Avdel, Atlas, and Sherex Fastening Solutions.
  

• Slotted body threaded inserts are designed with gashes in the body that expand when the bolt is tightened for a firm connection. Slotted-body threaded inserts are commonly used for thin-gauged metals, such as aluminum. This insert has cuts along the body that come pre-bulbed to collapse on the blind side to secure the insert. There are straight-body and pre-bulbed body types from manufacturers such as Avdel, Atlas, Sherex, AVK, Goebel, and Marson.

• Most herbal and dietary supplements don’t lead to weight loss, a review of existing studies has found.

• Researchers looked into data for green tea extract, guar gum, and acupuncture, among many others.

• Only 16 studies showed a difference in weight between participants taking supplements and a placebo.

• Researchers found that the weight loss was less than 1 pound for some people, and not consistent for any of the supplements examined.

Weight loss supplements come in a variety of forms, including pills, gummies, powders, and liquids, like teas.

They often tout fast and easy weight loss with a promise that you can lose inches without having to rely solely on eating a balanced diet or exercising regularly.

And they’re extremely popular. The weight loss supplement industry was worth $6.5 billion in 2020.

But do these supplements actually work?

A new comprehensive study published in the journal ObesityTrusted Source on June 23 has found that dietary supplements do not result in dramatic weight loss as they claim.

In fact, it’s rare that people who take these supplements lose any weight, the research showed.

There’s been an ongoing debate about whether weight loss supplements work and whether they deliver on their promises.

In this study, researchers reviewed 315 existing clinical trials of weight loss supplements and alternative therapies as part of the study. They found most studies were biased.

Only 16 studies managed to demonstrate weight loss in participants, ranging from less than 1 pound up to 11 pounds. Weight loss was also not consistent among the study participants.

The researchers reviewed the following 12 ingredients:

• calcium and vitamin D

• chitosan

• chocolate/cocoa

• chromium

• ephedra or caffeine

• garcinia and/or hydroxycitrate

• green tea

• guar gum

• conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)

• phaseolus

• phenylpropylamine

• pyruvate

Other non-supplement therapies that were studied included acupuncture and mind-body interventions like mindfulness and meditation.

“One of the major reasons we wanted to conduct this review was to determine the quality of the evidence to guide the membership [of The Obesity Society]. The results suggest that more high quality evidence is needed before firm recommendations should be made,” said corresponding author Dr. John Batsis, associate professor in the division of geriatric medicine at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine and in the department of nutrition at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Sharon Zarabi, RD, program director at Northwell Health’s Katz Institute for Women’s Health in New York City and Westchester, said the study outcome was not surprising “because obesity is a very complex disease and there will never be a magic pill to cure” it.

“Even if there was a supplement, ingredient, herb, tincture, etc., that would work, supplements are not regulated by the FDA. Understanding the manufacturing practices, degree of active ingredients versus fillers, dose, quality, and efficacy, will be impossible to formulate,” she told Healthline.

Zarabi pointed out that changing your lifestyle is likely the only way to manage your weight.

“Taking a cocoa pill or ginseng supplement will never work if you don’t change your lifestyle because your body is always defending you from weight loss, and you have to be an active participant in healthy living to keep it off — even with surgical procedures (bariatric surgery),” she said.