The allure of losing weight fast is hard to resist, especially when work, school, and home responsibilities make it difficult to fit time for the gym. While fad diets are nothing but a fad, and fat-burning pills mostly result in short-term weight loss, these diet aids may tempt even the most skeptical — but what if they were to actually work? On a recent episode of The Dr. Oz Show, “Triple Your Fat Loss,” America’s TV doctor revealed just how you can triple your fat loss with his personalized weight-loss program aimed at burning fat after meals with Meratrim and pomegranate.

While it’s not the first time Oz talks about health hacks for rapid weight loss, it is one of the few times he has publicly approved a weight loss supplement, like Meratrim. According to Oz, the pill contains fat-fighting properties of the herb sphaeranthus indicus and the flower Garcinia mangostana, and is the first to combine these ingredients together to enhance their well-known benefits. Supplementation of the herbal blend claims to significantly reduce body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist and hip circumference, exceeding those achieved through diet and exercise alone.

Dr. Oz 3-Step Fast Weight-Loss Diet: Lose 3 Pounds & 3 Inches Off Your Waist In 2 Weeks

Step 1: Take Meratrim 30 Minutes Before Breakfast & Dinner, Walk 30 Minutes a Day

To add credibility to Meratrim’s claims, Oz conducted his own small study by recruiting 30 audience members to use the supplement for two weeks and to report their weight-loss results. The findings revealed all 30 women lost an average of 3 lbs. and 3 inches off their waists after taking Meratrim. In order to achieve the best results, Oz recommended the audience do the following: Take 400 milligrams of Meratrim 30 minutes before breakfast and dinner, and walk for 30 minutes a day.

Although Meratrim may sound like a magic bullet for weight loss, the results on The Dr. Oz Show cannot be taken at face value. These women could have lost weight because of the added pressure of disclosing their weight on TV, and the strong placebo effect. The participants could have made themselves believe that Meratrim would give them weight loss results, and this would in turn impact how they went about their daily activities to make sure they achieved their weight-loss goals.

Step 2: Double Protein Intake at Every Meal

Oz suggests dieters to substitute carbohydrates that you normally consume with protein. This substitution will force the body to burn a lot more calories. For example, you can start out by changing your breakfast carbs with high protein options, such as trading in a smoothie for a boiled egg and low fat cheese. Lean protein will not only keep you feeling full longer, but also supply you with energy until your next meal. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's recommended daily value of carbs for women is 130 grams, but they also advise 45 to 65 percent caloric intake should come from carbs. It’s better to opt for high-fiber nutritious carbohydrates.

Step 3: Take a Tablespoon of Pomegranate Vinegar After Every Meal

The final step of Oz’s triple fat-loss diet plan is to sip some pomegranate vinegar. The tangy-sweet taste may be difficult to acquire at first, but it can serve as a tool to prevent your body from storing fat. The elixir contains acetic acid that helps the digestive system by improving the body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients from the food consumed. Oz notes pomegranate helps keep inflammation down, and the vinegar helps regulate blood sugar levels that otherwise could trigger the body to store fat.

Meratrim: The Science Behind the Supplement

Currently, Meratrim is backed up by scientific claims and may be the reason was Oz was so willing to acknowledge the supplement on his show. A study in the Journal of Medicinal Food, observed the effects of the herbal combination of of sphaeranthus indicus and G. mangostana in 100 patients who were considered obese with a BMI of 30 to 40. The participants recruited for the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design study either took two placebo pills daily or two pills filled with the herbal blend. Both groups were on the same diet and walked for 30 minutes per day during an eight week period.

The researchers found patients who took the placebo pill lost an average of 3.3 lbs. per person, while those who took the herbal blend lost almost four times as much weight, with an average of 11.5 lbs. The difference in weight loss was seen within just two weeks of the study as patients who took Meratrim lost more fat around their waist and hips. An electrocardiogram done at the start of the study and the end, confirmed there were no serious adverse health effects from taking the supplement.

Meratrim: Does the Fat-Burning Pill Come Risk-Free?

The fat-burning pill is not only Oz-approved, but also has scientific data to back up its claims. But does it come risk-free? While the study did not find any serious side effects from taking Meratrim, dieters should be aware dietary supplements and weight-loss aids are not subject to the same standards as prescription drugs by the Food and Drug Administration. However, once a product is on the market, the agency actively monitors its safety and can take action to either ban or recall the product in question.

It’s important to remember makers of weight-loss products will make you believe their product will make all your weight issues go away. The solution to weight loss is not just taking a pill, but also modifying your eating habits so that you consume less calories in order to lose body weight. These supplements will help you lose weight in the short-term, but in order to keep the weight off you may have to continue taking them. This can create a dependency and may not be safe for dieters. Remember to consult with your doctor before going on any weight loss supplement to address concerns about efficacy and safety.