The surge of supplements
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Health supplement sales are booming nationwide, with consumers pouring money into products promising weight loss, sleep and stress relief — part of a bigger global shift toward spending on wellness.
Why it matters: People are relying on marketing messages instead of trusted dietitians or their personal health needs.
Zoom in: Supplement sales in Kansas City have grown $11.6 million in the past five years, while vitamin sales are down $1.8 million.
Catch up quick: The FDA regulates supplements (a more than $60 billion industry), but unlike prescription drugs, companies don't need preapproval to sell them. The agency usually only steps in after a product is flagged as unsafe or misleading.
Third-party verification is one way consumers can check to see if the new supplement their TikTok feed is raving about is actually what it says it is.
- Groups including NSF and USP offer verified product directories.
- Always tell doctors prescribing you medication what supplements you're taking to make sure they don't react poorly to one another.
The bottom line: Little regulation and oversight means supplements aren't always what they seem.