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Belonging to a flowering plant family, Apocynaceae, Hoodia is one of the 13 species in the family. Often it is mistaken for a cactus because it looks like a cactus but actually it is a stem succulent. It reaches to a meter in height and has large flowers. Its flower has a tan color and has strong smell. They are naturally found in the Namib Desert of Africa spread across the Central Namibia to the southern Angola. Hoodia gordonii, one of the 13 species of Hoodia has been investigated for its use by local inhabitants as an appetite suppressant. Since then Hoodia oodia has been marketed extensively as a weight loss product across the world. The originators of this knowledge are the San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert. The plant is harvested after it begins to flower which takes five years. The San Bushmen have been using the plant for centuries for various purposes such as indigestion and for the treatment of small infections besides being taken for long hunting trips as an appetite suppressant. 

The use of Hoodia gordonii by San Bushmen was noted by a Dutch anthropologist. The South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) commenced studies on the plant in 1977. It was successful in isolating a steroidal glycoside, the principal ingredient responsible for suppressing appetite. This ingredient was named P57. The patent for this discovery was obtained in 1996. CSIR formally recognized the San Bushmen as the originators of the knowledge only in 2002 when this non-recognition issue was raised. This made the San people eligible for getting a share in the royalties from the sales of Hoodia and any other products based on this knowledge. In 1995 Phytopharm received the license for P57 from CSIR. The company spent about $20 million for carrying out research on hoodia. P57 was sub-licensed In 1998 Phytopharm sub-licensed the rights to Pfizer for $21 million but returned the rights back to Phytopharm who is collaborating with Unilever.

Hoodia created a sensation when BBC reported on it in 2003 followed by 60 Minutes in 2004. Many products claiming to be Hoodia products began to be marketed. They are marketed in different forms such as capsules, tablets, liquid tinctures, coffee and infusions, syrups, protein shakes and even diet fruit bars. There are products such as Hoodia Supreme who claims pure Hoodia as its ingredient. 74

Recognizing that Hoodia is threatened because of the indiscriminate trade from Africa, CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) listed it under its Appendix II identifying it as a plant that should be brought under strict regulation. This certification also is proof of its genuineness.

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A very important health hazard that the world faces today is from obesity and overweight. The overweight population is prone to a variety of health problems such as cholesterol, heart problems, diabetes and high blood pressure. High calorie intake combined with low physical activity is considered as the most common cause of obesity. Obesity and overweight are most common in the rich countries of the world as well as the affluent class in the developing world. It is seen that the poorer sections in the affluent countries too are afflicted with this condition. This fact, amongst others, indicates that the problem is actually a lifestyle problem. The low physical activity and the kind of food that are consumed together cause the problem.

The food that is available and consumed in urban areas have undergone rapid change. Processed food has come to replace fresh food. They have become associated with the urban lifestyle. Processed food is moreover in tune with the busy urban life. Some of them are ready to eat while others need very little preparation. The processed food is cheaper, available and easily accessible. They have also come to be called junk food or fast food. Generally, they are rich in sugar and fat, and also contain additives. While the affluent sections in richer countries eat both high calorie food as well as processed food, the poorer sections consume more of the processed food which is low in nutrition but high in calories. The affluent in the poorer countries also consumes high calorie food as also increasingly the processed food. Combined with sedentary life style precipitates accumulation of fat. Obesity, however, is also known to be caused by eating and genetic disorder.

Increasing number of obese population has also led to the expanding market for weight loss program. The market is abuzz with newer and newer products and programs guaranteeing effective weight loss. But all this can be quite confusing to someone on the look out for effective weight loss program. It will help if you are able to assess the cause of your problem, may be from a specialist, and about the weight loss products and programs. The World Wide Web is indeed a major source for information. There are many books that give you information both on the weight loss programs as well as on the problems of obesity as Lose Your Belly Fat, GI Diet and HCG Diet Guide.

But in the long term it is necessary to make changes to the lifestyle. People are becoming more health conscious. Already the market for organically cultivated food is increasing. The ill effects of fast food are well known. Consumer tastes are swinging towards more nutritious food.

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